By CAROLINE CARMICHAEL / Staff Writer

It’s that time of year again! Relay for Life has scheduled its kickoff for Jan. 9 at 6 p.m. at the Alabama Power Conference Center in Clanton.

This year’s event will feature door prizes, Papa John’s Pizza and a presentation by special guest GeneAnn Jimmerson, who served as a caregiver for her daughter and husband who both had cancer.

Committee member Jerry Grooms will emcee the event.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) has much in store for the evening, according to Community Development Manager Jeannie Smith.

“We will announce when 2018 Relay for Life will be, where the event will be held — there will be some changes there for 2018,” Smith said. “We’ll have ideas for fundraising that teams can take away … we’ll have information on services provided by [ACS].”

Team registration is a key aspect of the event.

“There will be an opportunity for teams to register that night, and all teams that are registered before kickoff will receive a special prize at kickoff,” Smith said.

The goal? Forty teams registered for 2018 Relay for Life, Smith said.

ACS welcomes anyone and everyone interested in ACS or Relay for Life to attend its free, annual kickoff.

“I really want to encourage everyone to come out to kickoff and come away with some fun ideas and meet some new people — and just have a great time as Chilton County begins to attack cancer at every angle,” Smith said.

ACS is on the lookout for individuals interested in joining its forces by volunteering on the Chilton County Event Leadership Team, committee member and media coordinator Wendy Oaks said.

“We are diligently looking for individuals who have a passion about curing cancer and creating a world with survivors,” Smith said. “And we’re looking for people to come on board and help us plan our event, help us to coach our teams, love on our survivors, love on our caregivers, and just really come together as a community and be the backbone that is creating this event for the community.”

Interested individuals can contact Smith by calling (334) 410-0588 or emailing her at jeannie.smith@cancer.org.

For more information about Relay for Life or to register teams online, visit relayforlife.org.