The Hartselle High School Relay for Life team will be hosting a cancer awareness event at Hartselle’s home basketball game against West Morgan Fri., Dec. 5.

Players of all four Hartselle teams will be wearing different colored socks to represent a type of cancer they have been personally affected by, with purple representing all cancers.

Volunteers will also hand out colored ribbons to fans for them to wear during the game and show their support. Donation cans will be spread throughout the gym to allow fans from the community to support the Relay for Life team.

“We wanted the community to be able to show not only their love and support for Hartselle basketball, but also for Relay for Life and cancer awareness,” said Elaine Balch, Hartselle High School administrative and guidance assistant. “Many of the fans who will be there may not have other opportunities to support the HHS Relay for Life team. This isn’t really a fundraiser. It’s more of a way for the community to support cancer awareness.”

West Morgan’s coach Sam Brown said he was interested in getting his team involved in the cancer awareness event as well, according to Balch.

“When [Hartselle’s girls basketball coach Gary] Orr talked to Coach Brown about the game, he said he wanted West Morgan to participate,” Balch said. “I’ve gotten in touch with their school and let them know what we plan to do, but I haven’t heard what they are planning. I would guess that they might support their own local Relay for Life team, which would be great. It’s always great to have more people involved.”

The HHS Relay for Life team has a fund raising goal of $10,000 this year before the Hartselle Relay for Life event in May. Their upcoming fundraisers include a dueling dimes competition for the entire school. Each fifth period class will decorate a water bottle to collect dimes from class members. A full bottle will hold about $100 worth of dimes. The winning class will receive a special lunch.

Other fundraisers and events will be planned after the first of the year, including a tentative kickoff rally.

Balch said the Relay for Life team is more than just a fundraiser at HHS.

“I try to encourage each of them to develop their own personal story of why they are involved with Relay for Life,” Balch said. “It’s more than fund raising- it’s about building their own and others’ awareness.”

Balch said the team is also hoping to plan a trip to the Relay for Life lobby day in Montgomery to show lawmakers their interest in cancer awareness.