The words "Cancer Sucks" are obvious in bright pink against the black background of the shirt.

Senior Kelly Cochran, co-chair of the UW's American Cancer Society Relay for Life with senior Matt Simon, isn't afraid to show her spirit about the fight against cancer.

For Cochran and Simon, this attitude is a regular part of life.

"I didn't even notice," said Cochran.

"It's just kind of an all-the-time thing," said Simon. "We probably have enough [Relay clothing] to go for weeks."

In the life of a Relay for Life board member, planning is just that: an all-the-time kind of thing.

After the Jan. 11 Relay for Life kick-off party at the HUB, the campaign is coming into full swing for another year.

"The biggest thing we do this time of year is fundraise," said Chris Aversano, the American Cancer Society Relay director for Puget Sound. "Relay is kind of the party at the end."

Extensive planning by both the relay steering committee and team captains goes into the main event, scheduled for May 12-13 of this year.

"In order to find a cure we need money to research and raise awareness," Aversano said. "We try to educate the student population, make students aware of the free services available, such as college scholarships for cancer patients and survivors — people that had cancer and may not have graduated (from high school) until they were 19 or 20."

According to Simon and Cochran, the kick-off has two functions: first, to celebrate last year's success, which with more than $209,000 raised was fifth-best among U.S. colleges and first in the Great West division.

Second, it is an informal meeting to discuss goals and plan for this year's Relay.

"Last year we set ambitious goals without a clear plan for getting to those goals," said Cochran. "This year we're really ambitious but we have much more of a clear plan of how to get there."

The committee's goal is significantly higher than the amount raised from Relay 2006.

"Our goal is to raise $300,000," Cochran said. "We eventually want to make it into a million-dollar relay. There's not one in Washington now, but we want to make [it] this one. It's not going to happen this year, but we want UW to be the first."

Aversano said one of the most important goals, in addition to fundraising, is raising awareness and getting cancer survivors out to the event.

"So many times a survivor or a patient comes and they'll be next to someone who had the same kind of cancer they had 20 years ago, with no treatment and no hope, and they see they've made it," Aversano said. "You can see that change of outlook. It gives people a chance to fight back."

Sometimes, though, this is one of the biggest challenges the planners face.

"It's always a goal, but for a youth rally it's always really hard for two reasons," Cochran said. "There are fewer survivors because fewer young people get cancer and second, a lot of kids don't want to be labeled as 'the kid with cancer' and don't want to come forward, which we respect."

People fighting cancer and cancer survivors are encouraged to come even if they would prefer anonymity.

"You can come and not put on a purple shirt and claim yourself as survivor — you can just come and hang out," Cochran said. "I don't think at this point people will label students as 'the kid with cancer.' We've all known someone who has gone through it and it's OK."

Both Cochran and Simon didn't want to say how much time they spend on the project, but admitted they can get carried away.

"I'll check my e-mail and do work right before bed," said Simon. "And an hour later I'm still doing it."

Cochran agreed.

"I'm a habitual e-mail checker, so I'm on it all the time," she said. "I'll tell my boyfriend I'll call him right back, then I get working on something and I look down and it's an hour later."

With Simon and Cochran each having had seven family members affected by cancer, the motivation is clear.

"I've lost three because of it," said Simon. "That right there is enough. Even one is enough. Sometimes you lose track of why you're doing it, but when the relay happens and you see all those people in purple shirts, it makes the time commitment that you've done feel like nothing. You could have worked 40 hours a week and it would be totally worth it."

Reach reporter Keegan Hamilton at news@thedaily.washington.edu