Preparations for Turlock Relay for Life 2012 will officially begin tonight with a kickoff event. The annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life isn’t until April 21, 2012, but organizers are taking the opportunity to start the planning process early. The event will also celebrate the success of last year’s Relay, and the total funds raised will be announced.

“We will also announce this year’s goals and have a guest speaker,” said event chair Lisa Vorse.

The guest speaker will talk about what it is like to be both a cancer survivor and a care taker for someone with cancer. There will also be a chance for survivors to sign up for the event. There is an annual survivor appreciation day held about a month before Relay for Life that celebrates anyone and everyone who has survived cancer, from one day to a lifetime.

Survivors registered for Relay for Life will receive invitations, along with survivors who attended previous relays. Survivors also lead the first lap of Relay for Life and are given special recognition and gifts at the event.

“We just really focus on our survivors and give them the recognition they deserve,” Vorse said. 

Team captains can sign commitment cards at the kickoff event. Vorse said anyone who has an interest in Relay for Life is welcome to attend. The event will be held from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. today at the First United Methodist Church, 1660 Arbor Way, Turlock.

For more information about Turlock Relay for Life, call Lisa Vorse at 620-4412 or Juleen Amaral at 410-3816; or visit www.relayforlife.org/turlockca.

To contact Andrea Goodwin, e-mail agoodwin@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2003.