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Another year of Relay For Life fundraising in Chilton County got started with a local kickoff event on Sept. 23.

“We try and get our team members and our committees together and really just set the tone,” said Carla D’Andrea, senior manager of community development with American Cancer Society.

The event was held at Clanton Church of Christ’s fellowship room, and those in attendance were treated to pizza, salad and cake.

Not only did the event set in motion the 2020 fundraising campaign, but it also promoted this year’s Real Men Wear Pink initiative, where several men in community proudly wear pink while coming up with unique ideas to raise money for cancer research.

This year’s Real Men Wear Pink include Jimmie Hardee, Van Smith, Jason Lea, Stanley Varner, Wes Kelley and Bob Joyner.

“Last year, our six guys raised almost $12,000,” D’Andrea said. “Some of these guys really get into it, and the competition really gets going.”

The men will work to raise money throughout October, which is also breast cancer awareness month, leading up to the annual Pink Tie Affair Dinner on Nov. 7 at the Jemison Municipal Complex.

The dinner will serve as a celebration for all the participants and those who donated and gave their time.

Tickets for the dinner will be $35 and will go toward the total raised of whichever participant the tickets were purchased from.

The 2020 Relay For Life event in Chilton County is scheduled for May 1 on the little league football field at Clanton City Park.

“Cancer is just such a horrible disease,” D’Andrea said. “We want to get people excited about fundraising, so that some day we can live in a world without cancer.”

It was the fifth year that the kickoff for Relay For Life and Real Men Wear Pink (formerly Men in Pink) were part of a joint event.

“Our kickoff is always in September anyway, so it just made sense to piggyback,” D’Andrea said.