By Hailey Higgins, Local News 8 Reporter

IDAHO FALLS - Idaho Falls is fighting cancer by painting the town purple Monday morning.

On the steps of city hall, Mayor Jared Furhiman issued a proclamation to help kick-off this year's Relay for Life.

It is the American Cancer Society's largest fundraising event. It celebrates the lives of those who have battled cancer, and remembers loved ones who have died. 

The Bonneville County Relay for Life Committee hopes to raise money to find a cure for the deadly disease.

"It would be nice one day when someone says you've got cancer, you just say, ‘Oh I'll go get a prescription and get it taken care of.' We hope one day it won't be a death sentence," said Jodi McMurtrey, Bonneville County Relay for Life.

The Relay for Life will take place at Thunder Stadium at Bonneville High School on Friday night. It starts at six.

Pocatello's Relay for Life gets underway this week too, at Davis field.