Imagine a world free from cancer.

That’s what the volunteers with Relay for Life of Copiah/Lincoln Counties envision.

The season kicks off Thursday with the first committee meeting of the year. It’s at noon at Pike National Bank in Brookhaven and lunch is provided. Anyone interested in participating in Relay for Life is encouraged to attend, said Cindy Ashmore, senior community development manager for American Cancer Society, the agency that benefits from the national fundraising event.

The Relay event will be April 5 at the Brookhaven Exchange Club Park. The theme is “TV Game Shows.”

Future meetings are scheduled for Feb. 12 and March 7, both at noon at Pike National Bank, and March 28 at noon at Exchange Club Park. The March meeting is a special on-site meeting to determine tent site placements.

The event leader this year is Cindie Chambers with help from assistant leader Margaret Glass. Both are employees at King’s Daughters Medical Center.

Ashmore said this new year is expected to be an exciting one.

“2019 is an exciting year for the American Cancer Society and its Mississippi staff,” she said. “We are pleased to announce the upcoming opening of the new Gertrude C. Ford Hope Lodge, where patients and their caregivers can stay for free during their cancer treatments in and around the Jackson area.”

The Hope Lodge is located across the street from University of Mississippi Medical Center.

“Many cancer patients from both Copiah and Lincoln counties will benefit from this new service greatly,” she said.

The Hope Lodge is one of the many reasons Ashmore would like to see fundraising efforts grow in the two counties.

“Please help us strengthen our fundraising efforts by telling as many friends, family members and co-workers about this meeting and the upcoming Relay For Life event,” she said.

For more information, call Ashmore at 601-384-4148 or email cindy.ashmore@cancer.org.