Though the actual relay is in April, organizers said at the kick off meeting Monday that the Relay for Life Dallas County begins right now. Event chairman Tonya Miles said though they are a little late starting this year, she had faith in Dallas County and how much money they can raise.

“We have had a little late start this year but if there is one thing I know about Dallas County, its that we can pull this off,” Miles said. “Cancer is the demon that never sleeps — that is the purpose of the relay and that is why it is supposed to be a dusk to dawn event.”

The mission of Relay for Life, Miles said, is to raise funds for the American Cancer Society in their fight against cancer with treatment options as well as mental help for patients like the American Cancer Society hotlines that offer free counseling services 24 hours a day.

The Relay night for 2013 has been moved to the third weekend in April, as it is normally the fourth weekend and it normally coincides with the Battle of Selma.

“We want to move the relay to the walking trail [in Bloch Park] and we are talking to Alabama Power about getting lighting there,” Miles said.

Miles also announced the 12/12/12 Challenge where the regional Relay for Life committees are asking for each Relay for Life to have 12 relay teams of 12 people by Dec. 12, 2012, or 12/12/12. Relay for Life Dallas County currently has 11 teams, but Miles said everyone needs to begin fundraising and getting their teams together now.

“Our goal is to raise $100,000 this year and I know we can do it,” Miles said and their goal is to raise $20,000 in sponsorships as well.

Veronica Brown, the event co-chair, spoke to those who attended about the importance of Relay for Life.

“As sad as it is in Selma, Ala. one of the things that unifies everyone is cancer. Because it affects everybody and it doesn’t discriminate,” Brown said. “This event brings people together that you wouldn’t normally talk to in the aisles of Walmart, but at the relay you are talking and crying together because somebody has lost somebody or they know somebody going through the fight.”

The next meeting for Relay for Life Dallas County will be Jan. 15 in the Wallace Community College-Hank Sanders Conference Room unless otherwise announced.

Register a relay team today by visiting www.relayforlife.org/dallasal or contact Tonya Miles at 334-412-9675 for questions.