It took a special circumstance for Chuck Bond to dress like this.

In this case, the special cause was Relay for Life.

Bond, a sterilization technician at Playhouse Dental in Oak Harbor, boldly agreed to don a hula skirt, purple wig and wedge sandals to participate in one of the more popular events that lifts spirits at the Relay for Life of Whidbey Island.

Although Bond didn’t win the crown of “Mr. Relay” that comes with fielding the most donations while walking the track at North Whidbey Middle School Friday night, he did surprise himself.

“I don’t have someone close to me affected by cancer fortunately,” he said. “But there was no reason why I couldn’t come up here and help.

“It’s a fun opportunity to support a good cause.”

Selfless acts are what participation with Relay for Life is all about.

The annual overnight event raises money for cancer research, creates awareness about the disease and pays tribute to survivors and those who’ve lost their fight.

Many volunteers who help put on the event have been impacted by cancer through their own experiences or through loved ones.

“This is a great thing that they do,” said Laura Gritten, a cancer survivor from Oak Harbor.

Her husband, Don Gritten, was inspired by the people around him. They walked a survivor lap that kicked off the event, moved by the participants of all ages and those who watched and cheered them on.

“This is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen,” he said.

About 800 people attended Friday’s opening night, which included cancer survivor Joe Stach’s speech during the opening ceremony, a rap performance by brain cancer survivor Anthony Hale, the Mr. Relay Competition won by Mike Fletcher and the luminary ceremony dedicated to those who have lost their fight to cancer and support those still fighting the disease.

The event continued through the night, and wrapped up with a closing ceremony at noon Saturday that featured a speech by Renato DePaolis, a cancer survivor and flight officer from Whidbey Island Naval Air Station.

For the first time, firefighters from all five departments on Whidbey Island teamed up to take turns circling the track hooked up to oxygen tanks the entire duration of the Relay for Life event.

Jim Anema, a captain with the North Whidbey Fire Department, said he would stay all night Friday and didn’t bring a tent.

“I brought a chair,” he said.

Relay for Life of Whidbey Island so far has produced about 60 teams raising more than $90,000.

Mary Brock, the event chairperson along with her husband Kelly Brock, said she believes that number will exceed $100,000. Donations may continue to be received until the end of August.

IDEX Health and Science of Oak Harbor raised more than $15,000, extending a long streak of being the event’s top fundraising team.

Next on the list is the Answer to Cancer team from Whidbey General Hospital, which has raised more than $7,000.

Gail Seelow, a member of the Whidbey Island Bank team and Relay for Life’s organizing committee, was one of roughly 175 people who participated in the cancer survivor lap.

She has battled an advanced stage bone cancer for three years and recently started an experimental treatment to improve her quality of life and to extend her life.

Just being at the 2015 event, where she served cake to visitors and helped sort luminary bags, didn’t seem possible when she was diagnosed three years ago.

“I’m stubborn,” Seelow said. “It’s that New Yorker in me.”

The number of survivors Friday night caught her attention.

“I think I see more and more survivors every year,” she said.