POMEROY — Plans are moving forward for the annual 2013 Meigs County Relay for Life which will be held on June 7 and 8 probably at the Rock Springs Fairgrounds.

Courtney Midkiff, chairman, advises that a planning session will be held at 5 p.m. on Feb. 26 at the University of Rio Grande, Meigs Branch. At that time, on-line registrations will be discussed as well as organizing teams to participate in the event.

Midkiff said that this year Debbie Hysell will be handling the luminaries which sell for $10 each and can have either one or two names on each bag. The luminaries can be done in memory of or in tribute to somebody.

Relay teams are still needed, as are sponsors for each one. Each team does fund raising projects prior to the Relay for Life and the ones raising the most money are recognized following the event. The Relay for Life kickoff comes on March 15 at a dinner to be held in the cafeteria at Meigs High School.

The chairman pointed out that in 2012 132 Meigs County cancer survivors/patients asked for assistance from the American Cancer Society and were provided with 272 services including, but not limited to, transportation assistance, patient navigation, lodging, and programs such as “Look Good, Feel Better, Reach to Recovery; I can Cope.”

She also noted that survivors/patients can access services and referrals from the Ferman E. Moore American Cancer Society Cancer Resource Center, which is located in the Meigs County Health Department offices.

“As the local coordinator of the cancer resource center and as an American Cancer Society volunteer, I cannot begin to tell you how fulfilling it is to be able to tell a survivor/patient ‘Yes, we can help you along your cancer journey,’” said Midkiff.

This week sponsorship forms which show levels of supp0rt for teams, with the funds collected to go to the Ohio-Pennsylvania unit of the American Cancer Society which provides funding for services here, were mailed out to local businesses this week. The levels of sponsorships are Platinum, $750; Gold, $500; Silver, $250, and activity sponsorships of $100.