The Relay for Life of Pike County held a team meeting Thursday evening at Momma Goldberg’s in downtown Troy.

At the meeting, event chair Tammy Calhoun shared fundraising ideas with team captains. Suggestions included Barks for Life, an event for dogs that would mirror the Pike County Relay for Life event. She also recommended spirit nights at local fast food restaurants where teams would earn a percentage of the sales for the hours they volunteered.

Team captain Heather Minton shared her most successful fundraising idea for schools. She organizes a movie day where students pay $2 to get in and $1 for concessions donated by the school. Minton rents a recent movie for the event.

“We usually raise between $800 and $1,000,” Minton said. “It’s a big fundraiser. It takes minimal prep and we make good money on it.”

Roger Gunter’s team at Richland Baptist Church raises money with an annual turkey shoot and a bake sale. The church is currently planning a Valentine’s Day spaghetti dinner.

Gunter said he would like to hold a silent auction next year. He is drafting a letter to solicit items from businesses.

Volunteers discussed the possibility of having more than one purple Sunday this year. Church members would come in purple to show their support for Relay For Life, and volunteers would sell luminaries for the annual event and purple ribbons for a paint-the-town day.

Last year’s ribbons were sold for $10 each and cost about $3 each to make. Volunteers discussed finding different sources for the netted ribbon. Board member James Kimbrough said last year’s ribbons were ideal because people used them on their mailboxes and they held up well in the rain.

This year’s Relay for Life will be May 2 at the Troy Sportsplex. The theme will be “Luau for a Cure: 20 years of miracles and memories.”

“I just hope we have a good weekend,” Gunter said.

In addition to last year’s rainy weather for Relay for Life, Gunter recalled a storm that interfered the previous year.

Calhoun said weather would not interfere with plans. “Last year was terrible, but we already have the rec center reserved. If it rains we’re just going to go inside,” she said.

Calhoun’s concern was for the cancer survivors. She plans to have a tent at the Relay for Life so that those who are not part of a team feel welcome at the event.

She also wanted to publicize a helpline. Those who have been diagnosed may call 800-227-2345 24 hours a day for counseling and information.

Relay for Life is seeking volunteers to head a team or join the board of directors. Anyone interested may contact Joy Brigham at joy.brigham@cancer.org. To register a team, go to www.relayforlife.org/pikeal.

Team meetings will be held Feb. 13, March 13 and April 13 at Momma Goldberg’s at 5:30 p.m.

Board meetings will be at Troy Regional Medical Center in the boardroom on Feb. 4, March 4 and April 8.