After Marie Pimental beat cancer 20 years ago with a new treatment, she made it a point to help others beat the disease.

Pimental, a Rochester resident, joined an American Cancer Society Relay for Life team 19 years ago and has been raising funds ever since.

“I decided to give back because research made the difference for me,” said Pimental, who was diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer, which she said is “usually a death sentence.”

Pimental and her team continued the fight against cancer on Saturday alongside the 13 other teams and 110 people who participated in Relay for Life of Tri-Town. This year marked the event’s 10th anniversary.

Relay for Life raises awareness and allows participants to honor cancer survivors and remember those who passed away due to the disease.

Event Co-Chair Pam Houston, who has been part of the event for seven years, said the Mattapoisett Relay raised $35,000 as of Saturday afternoon, with more donations expected during the all-night event.

While the tri-town event isn’t the area’s largest, the teams that arrive every year are enthusiastic and committed.

“It’s awesome,” Houston said. “We’re not a big Relay, but the teams are very dedicated.”

Pimental is team captain of “Close the Book on Cancer” whose 13 members are mostly tri-town educators. Pimental herself was Sippican School’s librarian for more than 30 years before retiring. The team has been participating at the event since it launched.

Following her diagnosis, doctors tried a number of treatments until finding success with a drug derived from the bark of the Pacific yew tree, known as taxanes.

“Nothing else was working,” Pimental said.

Another cancer survivor, 14-year-old Alexa Dunham, kicked off the festivities with a short speech. Diagnosed at age 12 with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Alexa underwent six months of chemotherapy as a 12-year-old. She’s been cancer free since.

To the families who lost loved ones to cancer, Alexa said, “Cancer did not beat them, they were superheroes on Earth.”

The Relay started at 3 p.m. as cancer survivors took the initial lap around the track at Old Rochester Regional High School. Next, they were joined by caregivers for a second lap. At least one member of each team stayed on the track at all times until the Relay ended Sunday morning at 8 a.m.

The event also featured a carnival-like atmosphere that included games, face painting, popcorn, cotton candy and more.

At 9 p.m., participants stopped for the Luminaria ceremony to remember those who passed away from cancer. Bags containing candles lined the track as walkers took a lap in silence.