Bourbon County Relay for Life kicks off campaign Jan. 14

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- The Bourbon County Relay for Life organization will kick off its 2010 cancer awareness and fundraising campaign on Jan. 14.

The local Relay for Life chapter, which began in 1995, will host the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Coffee at 8 a.m. at Woods Supermarket, 2322 S. Main St. The chapter's annual kickoff dinner and organizational meeting will take place at 7 o'clock that night at the Community Christian Church, 1919 S. Horton St.

Organizers choose a theme for each campaign, and this year's theme, "We are creating a world with less cancer and more birthdays," holds a special meaning, Bourbon County Relay for Life member and treasurer Angie Carr said.

"It's a birthday theme this year," she said. "Finding a cure would give everyone more birthdays."

During the campaign, dozens of teams and hundreds of members attempt to raise money for the organization's mission, which is to eventually find a cure for cancer. All proceeds from local Relay fundraisers and events throughout the year benefit the American Cancer Society, a national health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer through research, education, advocacy and service.

Participation in Relay for Life events and activities varies each year in the local community depending on the amount of time a person is available to commit. Organizers are trying to work more on informing people about the organization and its goals, Carr said.

"I think a goal is making people aware of what Relay is," she said. "The education will hopefully spark some interest and people will want to be a part of it and get some excitement going."

Relay for Life events across the United States are considered to be the premier fundraisers for the ACS and are designed to spread awareness of cancer prevention and treatments, celebrate survivorship, and raise money for research toward finding a cure for cancer.

The local chapter's campaign concludes each year in June with an all-night relay walk. That event features several activities and ceremonies to honor cancer patients, survivors, victims and caregivers.

Carr said the local chapter will become involved in 2010 with the ACS Cancer Action Network (CAN), an organization that the ACS started in 2001 to raise awareness about the effects of cancer and to urge people to contact legislators about putting non-smoking laws in place and making the U.S. Congress aware of the need for more cancer research.

Cancer ranks behind heart disease as the second leading cause of death in the U.S., and kills millions of people around the world each year.