POMEROY — The American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life, one of the biggest fundraising events in Meigs County, kicks off on Monday with a team captain’s meeting.

From 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Monday in the banquet room at the Wild Horse Cafe, returning and new team captains interested in RFL can stop to pick up team-captain packets. Information will also be available about fundraising, health promotions, advocacy and availability programs. Light refreshments will be served. This year the RFL committee will be introducing an incentive/prizes program to encourage team captains to attend rally meetings and bank night.

This year’s Meigs RFL will be held May 8-9 in the Thompson-Roush Building at the Meigs County Fair Grounds. This year is the 25th anniversary of the RFL events.

Last year 22 teams participated in the Meigs RFL, grossing $52,788 and netting $47,528. All teams raised a total of $32,672 with Ernie’s Line Crew being the only gold level RFL team which raised $5,046. There were three teams which came in at the silver RFL fundraising level (which is $2,500-$5,000) and those were the Meigs Intermediate School team, Holzer Clinic Meigs Dedicate to a Cure team and Farmers Bank’s Moolah Makers.

In addition to team fundraisers, local schools generated $7,377 via mini-relays and other fundraisers and cooperate sponsors donated $12,193.

This year’s financial goal for RFL is $43,500 net and the Meigs RFL Committee has a goal of signing up 25 teams.

What many on the committee emphasize is these local dollars go into free programs that benefit people in Meigs County such as the ACS’s Ferman E. Moore Cancer Resource Center located inside the Meigs County Health Department, Reach to Recovery, Look Good...Feel Better, Hope Lodge, etc.

Members of the American Cancer Society’s Meigs County Advisory Board and team members from past Meigs County RFL events recently gathered at the home of Rae Moore who hosted a dinner to celebrate the end of the year and the kickoff for the 2009 RFL season.