The kickoff meeting for this year’s Relay for Life event for the American Cancer Society is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, at the VFW Hall at 1801 S. Washington St.

Richard Rodriguez, contact person for this year’s event, said all team captains should attend. But the meeting is open to anyone who wants to come.

This year’s relay will take place from 7 p.m. Friday, April 30, until 7 a.m. Saturday, May 1.

The Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society’s national signature, an overnight fund-raising activity usually held at the Veterans Memorial Stadium at A.C. Jones High School.

Teams of eight to 15 members will gather with tents and sleeping bags at the stadium for numerous fun activities during the night.

The annual event brings families, friends, employees and church members together to walk around the track at the stadium, raising funds to fight cancer as they go.

Rodriguez said teams should organize early.

During the annual festivities, people celebrate the success of cancer survivors, remember loved ones and empower others to fight back against a disease that takes too much from society. “The event raises awareness about the progress against cancer while also raising funds to fight the disease,” Rodriguez said.

“Individuals who are willing to give their time and energy to this exciting community event, as a volunteer or as a participant, have made a commitment to fight back against cancer,” he said.