“Relaywood” comes to the Square today as Relay for Life kicks off its annual campaign with a brown bag event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The theme is “Relaywood: Lights, Camera, Take Action.”

Troy Mayor Jimmy Lunsford will address the group at noon. Live music will be provided and purple cupcakes will be shared for residents who bring a brown bag lunch. Organizers are planning a balloon release in memory of and honor of those who have been lost to cancer.

Relay for Life brings the community together, explained co-chair Pam Nix. “I’m a survivor. I’m here because people raised money. Now women have a 95 to 98 percent chance if breast cancer is caught early, and this came as a direct result of that,” Nix said.

“Pike County raises a tremendous amount of money every year and with the amount of people and funds raised,” it’s phenomenal explained Nix. “So many people get involved and I don’t think there isn’t a single person that hasn’t been touched,” Nix said.

Pike County raises around $180,000 or more every year for the American Cancer Society through Relay for Life.

Relay for Life isn’t just in the month of May, and that is the message the community will hear this morning. “The most important thing that the community needs to know is that this is year-round; it never stops completely. People will continue to find ways to raise money,” Nix said.

All the teams participating this year will hold fund-raisers throughout the year from 5K runs to bake sales, but the kick off is not just for the teams it’s for everyone explained Nix.

“We want the community to support this like they always do. Pike County is great about seeing about their own,” Nix said.