Published: January 03, 2009 07:17 pm      

Relay for Life to kick off new year on Monday

The Walker County Relay for Life will kick off a year of fundraising for the American Cancer Society with an informational meeting Monday.

The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. in the community room of the West Hill Mall.

Allen Branch, teams coordinator, said the purpose of the gathering is to announce the theme of this year’s relay and provide the objective of Relay for Life and fundraising efforts.

“It’s like an orientation for people that have never participated in Relay for Life,” he said.

Branch also said there will be a miniature luminary ceremony, where survivors and those lost to cancer are honored.

This is the sixth year the Walker County Relay for Life has sponsored fundraising events, including the relay held in April. The relay is an all-night event with a survivor's walk and various other activities.

“Relay is for everyone to get together and share the good times and honor the survivors,” Branch said.

This is the 25th anniversary of the Relay for Life movement, which was started by Dr. Gordy Klatt of Washington. Klatt raised $24,000 his first year when he walked around a track for a full 24 hours.

Teams of 15 are able to register and raise funds until the day of the event, Branch said.

There will be team captain meetings on the second Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. in the Chamber of Commerce meeting room.

For more information, visit the Walker County Relay for Life at www.walkercountyrelay.org or call Branch at (936) 714-4579.