The Marengo County Relay for Life raised just under $75,000 in 2012, and in 2013, the goal is to meet and surpass that mark.

In her first year as chair of the Marengo Relay for Life, Doris Stephens is working hard to make this year’s Relay one of the best for Marengo County.

“I am very enthusiastic and I like to be involved,” Stephens said. “I don’t want to see the town lose hope in what we do, so I’m very excited to be organizing it.”

She said her experience as the chair so far has been good, and that she is excited to see it all coming together as May 10 draws closer.

“It has been very good so far,” she said. “I enjoy building the teams and meeting new people. It’s definitely had challenges, but it’s been good.”

Stephens added that she always looks forward to the survivors lap during Relay for Life and “hearing another person say they beat it.”

“We can’t just let (cancer) take over,” she said. “There’s so much out there to help fight it, and Relay is a good place to start.”

Stephens said she is appreciative to everyone who is fundraising and volunteering to help with the event.