Approximately 50 people, including six cancer survivors, came together for the Scotland County Relay for Life kickoff Monday night to discuss plans for this year's event and to be inspired to "Go for the Gold."

The kickoff was held at the W.R. Dulin Center at Scotland Memorial Hospital.

"I thought it went great," Co-Chairman Carol Thomas said. "We had a room full of people and everyone seemed enthused." Her husband, Stewart, also serves as co-chairman.

The 2010 Relay for Life will be held Oct 1-2. The theme is "Teaming Up for a Cure."

Last year Scotland County exceeded previous years by raising $280,071.59. Of this amount, $213,262.42 was raised by the 39 teams that participated.

The honor earned the county distinction.

"For the second consecutive year Scotland County received the number one in nation per capita in our population category," Stewart Thomas said.

They also received the Power of Hope Award given for the most survivors on track to walk the opening lap.

The goal this year is to do more than what was done last year.

"Last year we raised $280,000," Stewart Thomas said. "We want to do what we can to make it $281,000. We will start with where we were last year and try to exceed that."

Team captains were challenged to start thinking about fundraisers. Organizers also launched a new idea.

"We have a new fundraiser idea that is going to literally knock your socks off- Relay for Life flip-flops," he said.

The flip flops are brown and gold and have Relay for Life on the strap. They will be sold for $20. Each pair sold will net $8 profit for the team that sells them.

"Every fundraiser all the way down to the smallest bake sale is just as important as the larger ones," Stewart Thomas said.

Relay for Life will continue with old fundraisers including its major fundraiser, the Campbell Soup Golf Tournament to be held June 11-12.

Stewart Thomas serves as the Relay coach and used the night to motivate team captains and members.

He illustrated his point with a Youtube video of North Carolina State's Basketball Head Coach Jimmy Valvano's 1993 ESPY Speech. At that time Valvano was battling cancer and announced the start of his cancer foundation. It's theme was "Don't Give Up."

"I think what he said to us is good advice for us today," Thomas said. "His message is loud and clear: if we focus on family, religion and Relay for Life, we will be very successful."

Thomas also expressed the value of a team and the importance of each member, and even though the organization is made up of different teams they all are a part of the massive Scotland County Relay for Life team.

A difference this year was that instead of having a survivor as the speaker, the organizers allowed each survivor in the audience to tell their story. Three took the opportunity to speak.

Nancy Adcock expressed how she had been involved with Relay for Life since it first started in Scotland County. During her involvement, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, making her a 10- year survivor.

"Relay means everything to me. I have a passion for what Relay has done and I will continue to relay. I will not stop as long as I'm well until we find a cure," she said.

Four-year cancer survivor Patt Williams shared her sentiments. She said she has lost many family members to the disease and calls herself "lucky."

"I want a cure and I'll fight as long as I have to," she said.

The most recent survivor was Cindy Coble, who was diagnosed 2 1/2 years ago. She thanked Relay for Life for giving her another chance at life.

"What Relay means to me is an end to cancer. If we didn't have that research, I wouldn't be here today," she said.

The award for the longest surviving person went to a gentleman who has lived with the disease for 13 years.

The event was not just a pep to spark involvement but also an informational session about cancer.

The missions committee gave a segment on the importance of getting tested for colon cancer.

"Colon cancer is the second leading cause of death in U.S. By following standard screening we can save an estimated 30,000 lives a year," said Mary Callahan- Lopez, social worker for the Scotland Cancer Treatment Center and co-chairperson for the missions committee.

The next captain's meeting will be May 10 at 6 p.m. in the W.R. Dulin Center at Scotland Memorial Hospital.

To register, persons can join a current team or start their own and sign-up at the next team meeting.

Registration will be $5 before August 1 and $10 after.