Enthusiastic individuals and teams will gather at the Greenville Depot on Feb. 21, at 5:30 p.m., for the Butler County kickoff of the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life 2000. Organizers say Butler County's involvement in the national movement to fight cancer has not gone unnoticed in the past, and reaching this year's goal of $100,000 is crucial to winning the fight against cancer in our area.

Butler County Cancer Society Chair Joan Reynolds said that last year the county exceeded its goal by more than $8,000 and was recognized by the society as the ninth largest contributing county of its size nationally. She said this honor shows how caring the people of Butler County are when it comes to worthy causes.

"Each year the residents of the area are asked to give more and more, and each year they do," Reynolds said. "It shows that we have compassion and honestly care about our about our fellow man."

Reynolds said Relay for Life has become a popular annual event in Butler County that many people look forward to each year. She said that in past years, hundreds of community members have shown their support by becoming team members, making donations or volunteering during the event. This year, she said, should be no different.

"I am constantly amazed at how supportive the people of the area are of Relay For Life." Reynolds said. "This type of support is what we need to reach our goal, and the more people we can get involved the better."

Nationally, more than 2,400 communities participated in Relay For Life last year and raised more than $125 million to fund research, education and assistance programs around the country. Cancer Society research shows that cancer knows no boundaries between age, race, gender or status, and will strike one in two men, and one in three women over the course of a normal life.

Funds raised by Relay For Life are used to support cancer research and fund the development of new prevention and detection programs. The American Cancer Society continues to provide assistance to local cancer patients through Road to Recovery programs that help with the expenses of travelling to treatments. The society also sponsors a number of support programs that assist people with life challenges associated with the disease.

To find out more about how to be a part of Relay for Life, attend the Relay For Life Kickoff party on Feb. 21, at 5:30 p.m., at the Greenville

Area Chamber of Commerce at the Depot in downton. A light meal will be provided.

To find a team looking for members, or to register a new team, contact Joan Reynolds at 382-2696, or Angela James at 382-9896.

This year's Relay For Life will be held on the campus of LBW in Greenville on May 5 beginning at 6 p.m. until. Paricipants will walk, run, stroll or shuffle around a track relay style to symbolize the ongoing fight against cancer.