Six weeks after Elise Berens' father was diagnosed with cancer, he passed away and her volunteer role within the American Cancer Society took on a new meaning.

After her father's diagnosis in December 2002, Berens helped bring the Colleges Against Cancer to University Park in March 2003.

"It wasn't just about starting a new group on campus, it was about educating people about the disease so that they wouldn't have to go through what I had," Berens, president of the organization, said.

Now, Colleges Against Cancer will help kick off planning for State College's first Relay for Life tonight at 6 in the State College Municipal Building, 243 S. Allen St. Berens said the kickoff is an introduction to Relay for Life and an organizational meeting to form committees for the event.

"It's almost like a pep rally to get people pumped up and excited about the event and inform people on the ins and outs of Relay," she said.

Relay for Life is the signature American Cancer Society event and is a 24-hour non-competitive walk with 10 to 15 individuals per team, said Tom Hammond, regional income development director at the American Cancer Society.

"We expect at least 10 teams, average about 13 members, to participate, and probably around 1,000 people total at the actual event," he said.

The walk is tentatively scheduled for the weekend of April 17-18, and the location has not yet been determined.

"It will be fairly close to the university and easily accessible to everyone," Hammond said.

While teams are walking during the relay, there will be entertainment provided, as well as a memorial service for participants' family members who have lost battles with cancer.

Colleges Against Cancer and the American Cancer Society are working together to plan the event locally.

"Right now, we're trying to secure a site and put together a coordinating committee," Hammond said.

The Penn State chapter of Colleges Against Cancer is part of a national student organization.

Ryan McGarry, vice president of Colleges Against Cancer, said in an e-mail message that people have asked how the organization is different from the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon.

"In many ways we're working toward the same overall goal, but our focuses on cancer are different," McGarry said. "We know that by the numbers, your 55-year-old mom has a greater cancer risk than your little sister, so Colleges Against Cancer is a way to address that reality, which for many students, can be rather personal."

Berens said the organization has not had much time to publicize the event since the group just started, but it is planning on having another meeting regarding the relay in late January.

The group is also planning on having cancer control and awareness projects ongoing throughout the year and is also trying to lead a smoke-free bar campaign.