PHOTOS: At Brick Relay For Life, A Show Of Strength

BRICK, NJ -- Todd Durkin stepped onto Keller Memorial Field and took command Friday night, just like he had 27 years ago.

The former Brick Township High School quarterback, now a trainer and owner of Fitness Quest 10 in San Diego, came home for a visit and brought a few new friends with him. And for more than two hours, Durkin and the cast of the NBC show STRONG captivated and motivated the participants at Brick Township's Relay for Life fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.

Durkin gave the opening remarks, reminding those in attendance -- including his high school coach, the legendary Warren Wolf -- that when you're faced with the most difficult odds, that's when you fight your hardest.

"Everyone who grew up here knows what 'four' means," he said, holding up his right hand with four fingers up, the signal the Brick Township Dragons, the team Durkin quarterbacked in the late 1980s, used in the fourth quarter of every football game. "In the fourth quarter, that's when you have to give everything you have."

And while there was a fun fitness infusion into the evening's events that included honoring cancer survivors -- whether they were one month cancer-free or 20 years -- and honoring those lost to the disease during the luminary laps later in the evening, no one in attendance lost sight of the reason for the gathering.

"You're why we're here!" Bennie, one of the trainers, shouted to the walkers circling the track. "You are why this night is important. Keep fighting!"

Take a look at these photos from the night. And be sure to check out this video of Brick football coach Len Zdanowicz -- Durkin's teammate at Brick in the late 1980s -- and a special appearance by Wolf.