Planning is under way for a 15th annual Relay For Life cancer fundraising event scheduled to take place May 30 and 31 at the Old Town High School track.

Individuals and groups interested in participating can get organized at a kickoff event to be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, at the Bangor Banquet and Conference Center at 701 Hogan Road in Bangor. The evening will feature a buffet dinner, information on how to enter a team in the relay, and a candlelight remembrance ceremony.

Last year the Relay For Life in 2007 raised more than $200,000 for local programs in cancer research, education, advocacy and patient services, including transportation for cancer patients and one-on-one support for women with breast cancer.

This year the Relay For Life will change from a 24-hour event to an 18-hour event, starting at 6 p.m. May 30 and ending at noon the next day. Anyone interested in joining the planning committee, becoming a team captain, volunteering, or finding out more about Relay For Life is encouraged to attend the planning event. There is no cost to attend, but preregistration is required.

For information about Relay For Life, to find out how to volunteer, or to register for the kickoff, contact Mike Hart at the Maine Chapter of the American Cancer Society at 989-0332. For information about the American Cancer Society, call 800-ACS-2345 or visit the national Web site at www.cancer.org.