January 17, 2013, Gulf Shores, AL (GSA - Organizers for the 2013 Relay For Life of the Alabama Gulf Coast have announced they will hold their kickoff party for the event Monday at Tacky Jacks in Gulf Shores from 6-7:30 p.m. The event marks the traditional start of intense fundraising for the American Cancer Society by Relay teams that will culminate the night of Relay on April 6.

“The kickoff event is a chance for our Relay teams to get together and enjoy some great food, lively fellowship and more than a little bit of healthy competition,” Relay Chairman Theresa Enfinger said. “We’ll have Relay committee members on hand to distribute team information packets and also to get teams and individuals signed up to take part in this year’s event.”

Along with the great Tacky Jacks food, participants will be eligible for some great door prizes. “I’m excited about Relay this year,” Enfinger said. “We’re making some changes that we believe will make Relay more popular and create a greater impact on not just fundraising, but on cancer awareness and prevention as well.”

Enfinger said she would also like to thank the owners, management and staff at Tacky Jacks for allowing the kickoff to be held there.

“They’ve been very supportive of us in the past and we’re glad to see they’re continuing their support this year,” she said.

At the kickoff, Relay committee members will be on hand to give team captains their materials and sign-up anyone else interested in fund-raising. “I have had people tell me they would love to participate in Relay but they don’t have a team. We’re trying something this year that has worked well the past several years. If you want to participate, but don’t have a team, we’ll be glad to provide you a spot on a team,” Enfinger said. “We want to give anyone an opportunity to participate in any way they can.”

Enfinger said she wants to invite everyone interested in Relay out for the kickoff.

“We want to encourage anyone and everyone who is – or even just may be – interested in supporting Relay this year to attend our kickoff event,” she said. “Virtually everyone has a friend or family member who has been affected by cancer. This is a great way to work on making this disease a thing of the past.”

The 2013 Relay will take place beginning at noon April 6 at Lake Shelby in the Gulf State Park. For more information on Relay, contact Enfinger at 251-747-3045, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Relay-For-Life-of-the-Alabama-Gulf-Coast or visit the Relay website at www.relayforlife.org/gulfcoastal.

“I’m excited about this year’s Relay and have many ideas about how to get more of the community involved in finding a cure for cancer,” Enfinger said. “I want to let people know that their involvement in Relay can help save lives.”