Local residents are invited to a complimentary dinner and dessert reception from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Feb. 29 at Powerhouse Studios, 7 Littell Rd., East Hanover, to kick off the campaign for the American Cancer Society’s upcoming Relay For Life.

The Relay For Life of Madison/Florham Park opens the American Cancer Society’s season-long effort to create a world with “less cancer and more birthdays,” by helping people stay well and get well, finding cures, and fighting back against cancer. The annual major fundraising event is scheduled to start on Saturday afternoon, June 23, at Madison High School. Close to 100 people are expected to participate in the kick-off, with hundreds more lined up for the actual Relay in June. Last year’s Relay raised over $93,000.

In addition to dinner and dessert, team captain kits, registration materials, and Luminaria donation opportunities will be available. Guests are asked to RSVP for the dinner reception by Wednesday, Feb. 22, by contacting Brandie Engelberger at (973) 285-8029 or brandie.engelberger@cancer.org.

A snow date has been planned for Thursday, March 8, from 6:30-8:30 pm.

“All are welcome to join us at our kick-off dinner to learn more about the Relay For Life of Madison/Florham Park,” said Barbara Bartolomeo of Florham Park, chairwoman of this year’s event and captain of the relay team “Kelly’s Angels” in memory of her niece. For the past four years, “Kelly’s Angels” was the top fundraising team in the local relay. It raised more than $50,000 in total over the past four years. The 60-member group walks in memory of Bartolomeo’s niece, Kelly O’Day of upstate New York, who died of melanoma in 2006, at age 16.

“Everyone has their own reason to relay. Unfortunately, so many of us have been touched by cancer in some way. Relay is more than a fund-raiser," Bartolomeo said. “It’s an opportunity to get together with your community and be part of a memorable experience.”

The sixth annual Relay For Life of Madison/Florham Park will be held on the grounds of Madison High School from Saturday afternoon, June 23, to Sunday morning, June 24. While other activities are held on the high school grounds, a team member is required to be on the track at all times and can choose to walk, run, or skip around the all-weather track.

Members of the public are invited to participate in Relay by registering online at www.relayforlife.org/MadisonNJ. For a $10 commitment fee and at least $90 in fundraising, participants will receive a t-shirt to wear at Relay if registered online by Friday, May 4. The commitment fee at the event will be $15.

For information on volunteering or local corporate sponsorship, or to find out how to build a team for the Relay For Life of Madison/Florham Park, call (973) 285-8028 or visit www.relayforlife.org/MadisonNJ.