The SVSU community is gearing up to try and save the world from cancer once more.

The organization Colleges Against Cancer will be hosting Relay for Life in February, with the theme Superheroes & Comic Strips. Students, staff and community members will gather to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

Health science junior Aubrey Vrable is looking forward to seeing the fun and creative fundraisers teams will come up with.

“My favorite part about Relay is seeing the community come together and have fun while raising money for such a great cause,” she said.

The fundraising goal this year is $45,000. Currently, $4,350 has been raised.

Twenty-three teams and 101 participants have registered for this year’s Relay for Life. Teams can incorporate the event’s theme into their on-site fundraising, which usually takes place during the event.

To kick start their fundraising, Colleges Against Cancer has hosted and participated in numerous events.

Proceeds from the Color 5K, T-shirt sales, Party Lite Candles sales and donations while volunteering to wrap gifts have all supported the Relay for Life fundraising goal.  Additionally, each committee member is individually working on fundraising.

The group plans to sell superhero-themed T-shirts next semester to continue fundraising for the event.

Colleges Against Cancer will also be bringing back the “Purple Potty.”  There will be a Relay for Life decorated toilet placed in faculty offices. Faculty can donate a certain amount of money to have the toilet removed and put in someone else’s office.

This year, the group is focused on education and promotion to increase participation in the event.

Mimi Marcus, Colleges Against Cancer vice president of income development, will be participating in her 8th Relay for Life on-campus this year.

Marcus recognizes the importance of Relay for Life for SVSU and the surrounding community.

“We teach students and the community prevention techniques,” Marcus said. “It’s very important to catch it early before it’s serious.”

Many of the dedicated committee members and participants have personal connections to the disease.

“I relay for my mom who is still battling,” Marcus said.

“I relay because we all know too many people that have battled cancer,” Vrable said. “Whether you relay for a relative, friend or neighbor, raising money to help support people through this tough time in their lives is extremely rewarding.”

The 12-hour fundraiser will be held Feb. 20 to 21 from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. in the Ryder Center.

If interested in joining the fight against cancer, students and community members can register at the following link: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLCY15LS?pg=entry&fr_id=67782