On January 13, Howard County’s 2009 Relay for Life, an event aimed at raising money for the American Cancer Society, is scheduled to begin with a meeting held at the East Columbia Library, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia at 6 p.m.

The relay will take place on June 5 and 6 at Hammond High School, where team members will camp out overnight, also trying to help one member stay on track during the entire event, which will comprise a Survivors’ Lap, Luminaria Ceremony and Kids’ Walk.

Relay for Life, the the world’s largest fundraising walk, is currently held in many countries, the American Cancer Society’s International Relay for Life Program providing training and technical assistance to the 19 countries outside of the United States that organize the event.

In Walker County, the kick off meeting is to be held at 6 p.m. in the community room of the West Hill Mall on Monday, teams’ coordinator Allen Branch having stated that the purpose of the meeting was to announce this year’s theme for the relay and also to give out information concerning the objectives of the fundraising.

The event marks the sixth time the Walker County Relay for Life has been involved in fundraising efforts, which include a relay held last April.

Moreover, the 2009 Relay for Life makes for the 25th anniversary of the Relay for Life movement, which was started by Dr. Gordy Klatt of Washington, who on the first year managed to raise $24,000 when he walked around a track for 24 hours.

Branch informed that until June, teams comprising 15 members were expected to register for the relay and begin raising funds.

Furthermore, he added that on the second Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. in the Chamber of Commerce meeting room, team captain meetings would take place.