On a clear, starry evening at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Conn., hundreds of people stood in the darkness at the East Hartford Relay For Life event, waiting expectantly for the final speaker at the Luminaria Ceremony to address them.

For the sixth year running, UTC served as the event’s lead sponsor, with more than 70 teams and 730 participants. Once again, people turned out by the hundreds to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, recognize caregivers, heighten awareness of the fight against one of the leading causes of death, and raise money for research, treatment and prevention in New England.