With the mid-May Relay For Life of the Greater Central Valley now about three months away, the next general meeting for the event is set for Thursday, Feb. 26 in Modesto.

Open to team captains, team members and anyone interested in learning more about the American Cancer Society’s signature fundraising event, the Feb. 26 meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Wellspring Anglican Church, 1548 Cummins Drive, Modesto.

Fishing For A Cure is the theme of the 2026 relay, which will be hosted May 16 and 17 at Johansen High School in Modesto.

The Feb. 26 session will also include a fundraising hot dog and chips dinner available for $5, served by the team 2 Hearts of Gold.

Those who wear their favorite fishing attire to the meeting can earn spirit points.

Scheduled from 9 a.m. Saturday, May 16 through 9 a.m. Sunday, May 17 at Johansen, this 24-hour event features team members walking laps around the track, special ceremonies, a kids camp, musical entertainment, luminaria bags lining the track at night, lots of onsite fundraisers by teams and more.

There will also be a classic car show and a variety of team competitions throughout the day.

Three major components of Relay For Life are Celebrate, Remember and Fight Back – with participants gathering to celebrate survivors, remember those who have lost their battle with cancer, and fight back to raise money for research, advocacy and patient services. Johansen High School, 641 Norseman Drive, Modesto has been the host site for the past few years.

Thirty-two teams are currently signed up, with over $29,000 raised to date.

The Greater Central Valley event covers a multi-county area and is still seeking teams and participants. More information is available by contacting event chairperson Irene Cortez at irene_c_95355@yahoo.com

You can also sign up online by visiting www.relayforlife.org/stanislausca