By CAROLINE CARMICHAEL / Staff Writer

Relay for Life is approaching quickly, and fundraisers throughout the county are paving its way.

This year, Chilton County Relay for Life is introducing a new fundraising challenge: Churches Against Cancer.

Churches who donate $500 to Chilton County Relay for Life will have their names featured on prominent banners, participant t-shirts and on the Chilton County Relay for Life website, according to Jeannie Smith.

Smith is the community development manager for the American Cancer Society.

Regardless of challenge participation, churches are additionally encouraged to partake in the Relay for Life Sunday of Hope.

“We’ve designated April 15 as our day for Sunday of Hope,” Smith said. “We are asking all of our churches to honor their cancer survivors, and their congregation that day to remember their loved ones lost and to celebrate those survivors.”

Smith said churches can host their own services honoring community and congregation members affected by cancer.

If so desired, Relay for Life can provide service materials, such as sample scripts, hymns and scriptures, to accompany the services.

“If they want the opportunity to incorporate luminaria bags and let the congregation purchase and decorate a luminaria bag, then they can turn those bags into us, and we’ll still use them at the Relay event,” Smith said. “They’ll be displayed twice, at the church service and at the luminaria event.”

“We just really want to get all our churches involved and let churches be mission-minded towards Relay for Life,” Smith said. “It can be a mission and an outreach for survivors and those affected by cancer.”

Churches who choose to participate can contact Smith for a Relay for Life packet. Smith can be contacted at (334) 410-0588.

For further updates regarding Relay for Life, visit the Chilton County Relay for Life Facebook page. To register for Relay for Life 2018, go to relayforlife.org.