JACKSON – The Northampton County Board of Commissioners has proclaimed April and May to be “Paint the County Purple with a Splash of Color (Yellow)” throughout the county, urging all residents to “Toon Out Cancer and Let’s Finish the Fight” as part of its fifth year of Relay For Life events.

The Relay for Life organizers at the March 21 meeting also announced that the Roanoke Valley FamilyFest, a fun day for families to celebrate education, fitness, and healthy living, will be held this Saturday, April 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Northampton County Cultural and Wellness Center north of Jackson.

Marla Jerman, this year’s chairwoman for Northampton Relay for Life, said the group will once again do a purple ribbon campaign like it did in 2015, which won national accolades for raising awareness for Relay for Life.

But this year there will be difference. The color purple is for survivors and yellow represents caregivers. Instead of purely purple ribbons like last year, the 2016 ribbons will be purple with a heart of yellow.

The 2016 campaign will be called, “Toon Out Cancer & Let’s Finish the Fight.” Everyone participating will be asked to dress to look like their favorite cartoon character.

This Relay for Life will also emphasize getting children more involved in the fight. A Kids’ Walk, for children ages 12 and under, will be conducted.

“Let them take the message out,” Jerman said. “I need somebody to carry the message of hope on.”

For Jerman, Relay for Life represents far more than raising funds to fight cancer. It is a message of hope.

More people are surviving the fight and new discoveries are helping people win the fight. Cancer is survivable and organizations like this are giving hope to people.

Northampton County Relay for Life has raised over $200,000 for the past four years.

This year’s Northampton Relay for Life event will be Friday and Saturday, May 13 and 14, at the Cultural & Wellness Center.