SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – Volunteers, cancer survivors and concerned citizens are invited to the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of CSUSB Kickoff on Thursday, Feb. 17.

The event, which features a light dinner, will be from 6-9 p.m. at the Eucalyptus Room in the Cal State San Bernardino Commons.

The purpose of the Relay Kickoff is to recruit volunteers for the 24-hour event, which will be held on April 30 and May 1 at CSUSB at the Pfau Library’s front lawn. Volunteers are needed to assist on the planning committee, serve as team captains and work with cancer survivors.

The Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society’s signature event, held in more than 5,000 communities nationwide, to honor cancer survivors, educate participants about healthy lifestyles and raise funds for cancer research.

Funds raised through the Relay For Life fund the American Cancer Society’s programs of cancer research, education, advocacy and patient service.

“We invite the local community to join in this fabulous event, where we celebrate cancer survivorship, remember those we’ve lost to cancer, and fight back against this disease,” said Cresent Green, Relay For Life volunteer event chair. “This is an opportunity for our community to get involved together and fight back against cancer together.”

For more information about the Relay Kickoff, contact Adrienne Record of the American Cancer Society at (951) 269-3370, or by e-mail atAdrienne.Record@cancer.org.

To sign up for the event at Cal State San Bernardino, visit the Relay for Life website.

Every hour about 15 Californians receive a cancer diagnosis. The American Cancer Society provides information on how to stay well, get well, find cures and fight back against the disease, including free patient services throughout the Inland Empire and nationwide.

The American Cancer Society is the largest private funder of cancer research in the United States, and has funded 44 Nobel Prize winners. More information is available by calling the American Cancer Society 24 hours a day at (800) ACS-2345, or visiting theAmerican Cancer Society website.

For more information about Cal State San Bernardino, call the university’s Office of Public Affairs and visit news.csusb.edu.