It’s that time of year again.

On Tuesday, March 15, the Mineral County Relay For Life committee with hold their annual kickoff event from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the old schoolhouse gym in Superior. With activities for kids, door prizes and the Zylawy brothers playing it is sure to be lots of fun again.

Team development chair Micki Tourtelotte said that the purpose of the kickoff event is to “get information out into the community” pertaining to the relay, which is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on July 8.

“The kickoff is planned so people have the opportunity to learn more about what it’s all about,” Tourtelotte said. “They can learn about what our plans are, sign up for a team, join a team, join the planning committee and become a sponsor.”

The theme for this year’s relay is a Season of Hope: Christmas in July.

“Nationally, the theme is a Season of Hope,” Tourtelotte said. “And what we decided to do locally was add on to it the Christmas in July part.”

If you attend the kickoff, you can expect to see some holiday decorating. Tourtelotte said that the theme ties directly into the purpose of the relay.

“We wanted to kind of focus in a bit,” she said. “We’re celebrating the gifts were able to give through donating to the ACS (American Cancer Society) and we’re celebrating the gifts people receive through the services offered through the ACS.”

Tourtelotte said that last year they had a phenomenal year. The event had 17 teams last year, with 191 participants. The event raised $40,000. The goal was $25,000. Mineral County was number eight on a list for their division and received the Pacesetter award once again.

This year, Tourtelotte said that the goal for this year is to make at least $45,000 and have over 200 participants.

“We really want to encourage people who are interested to sign up or join a team,” Tourtelotte said.

Tourtelotte said that she wants to make sure that everyone realizes that people who aren’t physically capable of walking their time during the relay have the option to do their time in a rocking chair. They set up Rockerville last year to make sure everyone can be included who wants to be.

When people agree to be on a team, they commit to raise at least a minimum of $100 per person. This can be achieved through team fundraising. Again, they agree to walk or rock their time during the relay.

“Walking is symbolic because cancer never sleeps and for one night neither do we,” Tourtelotte said.

Tourtelotte added that the signature of the relay at the national relay is to celebrate those who have battled cancer, remembered those who have lost the battle and to fight back against a disease that has taken too much.

“The reason we relay is for the survivors,” Tourtelotte said. “Through funds raised and through more research there can be more and more survivors.”