Cookbooks, home-made cards and sunflower seeds helped high school student Emily Holcomb, 4006 Hyde Ave., receive an award for most money earned for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event two years ago in Hamilton, Ohio.

Emily plans to participate in a similar event this August in Ames, and is now in the process of fund raising. Emily and her mother, Jayne, participate in the events to help raise awareness for an issue that touches close to home for both of them.

“Cancer runs in my side of the family,” Jayne said. “My grandmother and great-grandmother had cancer, and my mom died of cervical cancer. This is an important cause for me.”

After raising $700 with her fund raising group, Emily is planning to participate in this year’s 5K for Life event scheduled for Aug. 20 in Brookside Park.

Jayne said she is also planning to participate and sell cards because they have already run out of cookbooks to sell.

Although a plan was initially proposed for a Relay for Life event, Lori Schultz, income development coordinator for Story County, said a run/walk seemed to fit a lot better.

“We had a request for this type of event, rather than a relay, and we wanted to meet the needs of the community,” Schultz said.

Teams of eight to 15 people can work together to raise money in any way they want.

Schultz said the fund raising allows people to use their creativity.

“It can be fun. They can go door to door or do some kind of creative sale,” she said.

Todd Fitch, ISU assistant coach for the athletic department, was named honorary chairman for the event.

“I agreed to take on the title to raise awareness in raising funds for the American Cancer Society,” Fitch said.

He said he is not raising money with a group, but instead is using contacts from his coaching profession to talk to people who he has worked with in the past.

Fitch is Iowa State’s quarterback football coach and a Fitch is Iowa State’s quarterback football coach and a cancer survivor.

The event is scheduled to be preceded by a ceremony at 8 a.m. at the park’s shelter house honoring cancer survivors.

Small flags can be purchased for a minimum donation of $10, Schultz said.

“The flags will say ‘In honor of…’ or ‘In memory of…’,” she said.

“The flags are to honor or remember a friend or loved one who has battled cancer.”

The flags are then to be posted along the route of the run/walk.

“It’s a great reminder of what you’re doing: Raising money to save lives,” Schultz said.

The run/walk is planned to start and finish at the same location.

Schultz said it is still unknown if participants will have to pay a registration fee and how much it will cost.