Dawson County Race to a Cure 2015 plans to kick-off its team building and fundraising events Thursday, Jan. 15, at

the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame, 6 - 7:30 p.m.

This years theme is Racing to a Cure, Program Coordinator Brooke VanBuskirk said. We wanted to weave Dawsonvilles history into this years event.

The kick off events goal is to sign-up teams to fundraise and to inform the public what the American Cancer Society does for cancer research.

We are the second largest fundraiser for cancer research after the federal government, VanBuskirk said. We raise 50 percent of the total the society raises each year.

In Dawson County, Relay for Lifes goals are ambitious -- to raise $30,000.

Last year, 13 teams raised more than $25,000.

At the kick off, we want to get everybody pumped up and excited about the big April 25th event, she said.

New this year is a 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Saturday eventschedule.

Wed always done it on Fridays, but the community voted to change it to Saturday, VanBuskirk said. I think well get more participation than on Friday.

Relay for Life directly supports the American Cancer Society.

Also new this year is no registration fee. In the past,

teams paid $10 to sign up.

There is also no fixed minimum that a team has to raise, or the number of individuals on the team.

A team can be one person or 50, VanBuskirk said.

To sign up or for more information, call Brooke VanBuskirk, 770-297-1220.