It may be cold outside, but organizers of the Relay for Life of Barton County are thinking about spring as they gear up for the 2014 installment of the annual cancer-fighting event.
This year’s kick-off event will be held from 9-10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, at the Great Bend Knights of Columbus Hall, 723 Main in Great Bend. The theme for the 2014 Relay is “Music from Around the World,” which will be introduced at that time.
The local fundraising organization brings people together around the annual Relay to raise money for the American Cancer Society. The 20th Barton County Relay takes place June 13 in the Barton County Courthouse Square and the goal this year is $112,000.
In other RFLBC news, the organization is now a member of the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce. It will sponsor a GBCC ribbon cutting to mark this occasion at 10 a.m. Thursday at Great Bend Coffee Company, 2015 Lakin.
Referring to the breakfast, “I would just like to recognize the Knights of Columbus since they have donated their hall for the last several years for our kick off and we very much appreciate that,” 2014 Chairperson Kandi Wolf said.
After the opening event, a lot of work by the dedicated volunteers remains, Wolf said. “We are starting to  form teams and the teams then begin their fundraising through June.”
There is a team captain meeting once a month from February to June to help the teams organize, promote fundraisers and receive other support. Now, these captains are recruiting members ahead of the their first gathering.
In addition, Wolf said they are now registering cancer survivors so they can be recognized at the Relay in June.
“We also take that time as a committee to plan the best Relay possible by recruiting musical acts planning games organizing and planning the ceremonies,” Wolf said. The committee also meets at least monthly between January and Relay time.
For information on survivor registration, contact Mariann Shook at 620-791-7549. For more information on the Barton County Relay, contact Wolf at 620-797-5651, or visit the event’s Facebook page, Relay for Life of Barton County.