It happens every spring. No, not baseball’s spring training, but the gearing up for Relay for Life and its associated fundraisers.

Just as sure as pitchers and catchers report early for spring training, it’s just as sure that numerous committees are putting the final touches on plans for this year’s Relay for Life activities.

One visit to the Beaufort County Relay for Life’s Facebook page — https://www.facebook.com/beaufortcountyrealyforlife — provides evidence of the planning going into this year’s fundraising and awareness efforts in the battle against cancer.

From a road rally to the Charity Bookstore at the Little Shoppes of Washington on Main Street, there are plenty of events helping to raise those funds and awareness.

“Relay For Life represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that one day cancer will be eliminated,” reads part of the Facebook page. That’s a powerful message of hope and support.

Relay for Life is much more than just a fundraising campaign. Relay for Life is an awareness campaign and a support campaign. The annual headliner event held at Choppy Wagner Stadium at Washington High School allows cancer survivors, those who lost loved ones to cancer, the elderly and young folks an opportunity bond with others who know about and sometimes share their particular pain and experiences with cancer. The event, for some, can be cathartic — a blossoming of hope and joy where once there was only sorrow.

So, whether it is a dove hunt, bake sale, car show or car wash, such fundraising events do their parts in bringing that hope and joy to those who need it most.

Yes, this opinion page recently mentioned Relay for Life. And this opinion page will continue to mention Relay for Life because Relay for Life makes a significant contribution to the community. It’s worthy of support, be that support in the form of monetary contributions or a few words explaining the hope behind the message of Relay for Life.

Let Relay for Life continue until cancer is defeated.