Join the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life in Buckley on an inspiring journey Back to the Future – a future in which cancer no longer strikes fear in newly-diagnosed patients, when treatments are individually designed with no unpleasant side effects and when cancer is not only curable, but often prevented.

Organizers of Buckley’s Relay For Life event are hoping to bring others on board to help make 2009 the beginning of that future.

The group’s kickoff rally is planned for 7 p.m. Jan. 22 at Buckley Hall on River Avenue. Enjoy friends, food, music and learn how to participate in Buckley’s fight against cancer. The Relay is scheduled for May 15.

This year, more than 2 million people will be diagnosed with cancer. Three out of five will beat it, many helped by ACS.

Relay For Life is an overnight community event in which participants celebrate cancer survivors, remember those who lost their battle with cancer and fight back by raising funds for research and patient information and services. In 2009, Relay For Life, which started in Tacoma, celebrates its silver anniversary. Seventeen teams are already signed up and some have started fundraising. Teams can register at the kickoff for the reduced rate of $75.

This year’s committee is looking to recruit additional teams. Last year, 30-plus teams raised more than $80,000 that helped fund wigs, prostheses and weekly online sessions for Washington cancer patients.

For more information, contact Penny Frame, Relay For Life chairwoman, at 253-222-4181 or p4frame@yahoo.com or Dianna Billingsley at jdtb01@msn.com. More information is also available at www.relayforlifeofbuckley.com.