This year’s Relay for Life, the American Cancer Society’s annual sponsored fundraiser to raise money and awareness, marks Cullman County’s 25th year of involvement in the program.

Local organizers are hoping it’s a milestone that will signal a sort of homecoming for many of the event’s first-year participants.

“We would love for some of those very first teams who participated in 1994, if they’re still around, to come back this year,” said Gail Crutchfield, who helps organize the event each year.

“It would be a great way to celebrate the anniversary of Relay for Life in Cullman County, as well as to show how committed our community is to supporting our local survivors, and the mission of the cancer society.

Crutchfield and other organizers, as well as members of locally-sponsored Relay teams who’ve already committed to this year’s event, met for a kick-off session Thursday evening at First Baptist Church in Cullman. It’s the opening round in what organizers hope will mark the area’s most successful event to date.

This year’s Relay for Life will be held Friday, May 4 at the Cullman County Fairgrounds. To enroll a team, visit relayforlife.org/cullmanal — or call Helen Allen (helen@weltimail.com) or Gail Crutchfield (gailc220@yahoo.com) with questions about how to get involved.