CHENANGO COUNTY – On Thursday, May 1 businesses, houses and people across Chenango County are invited to bedeck themselves in purple to kick off the 2014 Relay For Life season. “Paint the County Purple” (PTCP) started a few years ago in order to raise awareness of the cause and will energize the 32 teams that are currently registered for Relay For Life.

“We're going to decorate the county,” said Event Chair Marie DeSarro. “It's to raise awareness that Relay For Life is coming soon.”

This year Relay For Life of Chenango County's goal is to raise $150,000, said DeSarro. While this may seem like a great deal of money, she said, “We've gotten close or have gone over that amount for the last five years.”

The funds raised go to the American Cancer Society, which sponsors research and grants for the cure and treatment of cancer. The national Relay For Life website also explains that funds go to help patients with lodging, transportation and various support groups.

“No single nongovernmental, not-for-profit organization in the US has invested more to find the causes and cures of cancer,” states the Relay For Life website.