Continuing a tradition that began many years ago, Ballard Elementary School students will be walking Friday to support the Relay for Life — a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.

Students, by grade level, will walk around the track behind Ballard Elementary School in Niles for 30 to 45 minutes beginning at 9:15 a.m. Students participating in Girls on the Run and students in the Peer to Peer program will be handing out water and cheering on the walkers.

Last year’s event raised approximately $3,000.

Depending on how much is raised this year, students will get to throw water balloons at teachers/administrators sometime next week.

This will be the third year Ballard students have participated in Relay for Life.

The tradition began several years ago when a student at Eastside was diagnosed with cancer, prompting the school to organize a Relay for Life. When Eastside closed in 2010, the event moved to Ballard.

Organizers should know how much money was raised by the end of Friday’s school day.