The push for student involvement in Relay for Life and work against cancer begins Tuesday with a kickoff event.

The event is hosted by the American Cancer Society and Fighting Against Cancer Together (FACT), a new student organization at Iowa State.

“The objective for FACT [at this event] is to get more college students involved in Relay for Life,” said Samantha Sexton, sophomore in pre-advertising and treasurer for the organization.

Although the event is geared toward students, Sexton said it is open to everyone.

David Dunn, income development manager for the American Cancer Society, said he hopes the Relay for Life kickoff will increase awareness of the American Cancer Society as well as get more students involved.

The kickoff event for the Relay for Life will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Campanile Room of the Memorial Union.

April Samuelson, senior in management and vice president of FACT, said FACT’s main goal “is what our name stands for,” to fight against cancer together.

The group works in conjunction with the Relay for Life community committee and focuses on student involvement, Samuelson said.

This year, they have given the Relay for Life publicity on campus with fliers and tables set up around campus.

The event is an introduction to the American Cancer Society and the events the organization hosts, Dunn said, including the relay because many students have not participated in the past

Sexton said a cancer researcher and Dunn will both speak at the event.

Dunn said the goal of this year’s Relay for Life is to raise $80,000. Most of this money will stay in Story County and some of it will go to cancer researchers at Iowa State, Sexton said.

The Relay for Life raises $243 million nationally for the American Cancer Society and 33,000 places around the world hold their own Relay for Life events, Dunn said.

Teams of 8 to16 that plan to do fund raising events as well as participate in the Relay for Life have until Feb. 9 to sign up.

The Relay for Life in Ames will be held at the Lied Recreational Center on Feb. 23, Samuelson said.