CHESAPEAKE — You can be a team of three or a team of 30. The only requirement to participate in the annual Relay for Life is to care about ending cancer’s grip.

Anyone wanting to be a part of the Relay this May can come to the kickoff Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Chesapeake Middle School.

“We invite anyone interested in Relay to come and get information on fundraising ideas,” Mike Filkins, in charge of logistics, said. “If they want to start a new team, they can get their team packet information. And we can register them online.”

Billed as the largest slumber party, the Relay is a community event that honors cancer survivors, current cancer patients and caregivers. The event also pays tribute to those who have lost their battle with cancer.

Teams camp out overnight, with members taking turns walking around a track relay-style. Before the event and throughout the night, the teams raise money, all of which goes to the American Cancer Society for research.

“We do most of our fundraising before the event,” Filkins said. “The event is basically a culmination of all the fundraising. We go up and have a good time, though there is money raised at the event.”

Teams can be a couple of friends or an entire school or church. No matter the size, each team sets a goal months before the event.

“You can basically set any goal you want,” he said. “We sell candy bars, have car washes, bake sales, rummage sales. People have Longaberger basket parties, Mary Kay parties. If you can make a dollar, you can do it.”

Last year’s Relay pulled in $100,000. Also teams can raise money online.

“Online fundraising is easy to do,” he said. “You can send out emails to friends and relatives clear across the country. They can get online and donate.”

Filkins understands firsthand what it means when cancer strikes a family. Six years ago, his daughter, Megan, was diagnosed with melanoma on her leg. Three years later, it had spread to her brain. Now the young woman is married and a nurse at the oncology department of King’s Daughters Medical Center.

This year’s Relay will be May 20 at the Chesapeake Football Stadium.

“Hopefully, I am doing some good being a part of it and making sure it continues to grow,” Filkins said.