RATHDRUM - The stage has been set for Rathdrum's first Relay for Life.

The American Cancer Society fundraiser will run from 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12, until 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 13, at Corbit Field at Lakeland High School.

A sports-themed kickoff celebration will be held on April 14 from 6-8 p.m. at the Lakeland High commons area. There will be food and the kickoff is free.

"We encourage people who are interested to come to the kickoff celebration," said Kevin Fuhr, Rathdrum's police chief, who is helping organize the event and had his own bout with cancer recently. "It should be a fun time and give participants and teams a chance to get to know each other. We are looking for volunteers, sponsors and teams."

The event's planning committee will meet on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Rathdrum Library. Anyone interested is welcome to attend.

During the Relay, a member from each team will be on the track between 6 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. on Saturday while other team members set up tents on the football field and have a giant slumber party.

Participants will take part in games and entertainment throughout the night.

"The event runs throughout the night because cancer never sleeps and people dealing with cancer live with it 24/7/365," Fuhr said.

People interested can go to relayforlife.org/rathdrumid to register, make a donation and sign up to walk. There is an individual cost of $5 to participate with a team and each team will set a goal to obtain donations.

A countywide Relay has alternated between Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls in recent years. This year it switches back to Coeur d'Alene and will be held at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds on June 10-11. The event's name has also been changed from the Kootenai County Relay to the Coeur d'Alene Relay due to multiple fundraisers locally now.

The decision to move the countywide Relay back to Coeur d'Alene this year was based on there being another Relay starting just across the border in Liberty Lake and other factors, ACS officials said.

Relay for Life is the ACS's signature fundraising event. This year an estimated 5,200 Relays will be held nationwide.

Information: Tamie Phelps, 687-4522