A 40-person team representing the American Cancer Society is riding in the 35th annual RAGBRAI to help raise awareness of the need for federally funded research.

At each stop along the route, the ACS Mobile Action Center will allow visitors to send messages to Congress about the need for funding. The goal is to have hundreds of messages sent to Congress by people from all over the country.

“We want to make sure everyone knows the progress being made and how they personally play a role in eliminating cancer as a major health threat,” said ACS of Iowa Vice President Gretchen Tegeler in a press release.

Along with the mass-message effort, each stop will have a “Relay Rally” from 7 to 8 p.m., in which Dr. George Weiner, director of Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Iowa, plans to answer questions about cancer research.

“The American Cancer Society has a tradition of grassroots presence in nearly every community in Iowa and the nation,” Tegeler said. “RAGBRAI gives us the perfect opportunity to meet and thank the volunteers who have led the fight against cancer for many decades.”

The team’s trek through Iowa will culminate in Independence on July 26, where a ceremony will be held to celebrate survivors and honor those who have taken on cancer.

The celebration takes place at Teachers’ Park from 8 to 8:30 p.m.