Lisa Nuss talks with Mavine Springer, Phyllis Nunn and Celeste Smith of the Hartselle Cancer Support Group. | Brent Maze

Officials with Relay for Life of Morgan-Hartselle are planning to stay away from April’s showers, banking on a new May date to help the cancer-fundraising event flourish.

Shawna Fincher, chairwoman for the event, said rain and thunderstorms have hampered the past two Relay for Life events.

Two years ago, the April 27, 2011, tornado outbreak postponed the event a few weeks. When it was held, rain moved the event to Sparkman Civic Center. Last year, a thunderstorm canceled the event less than four hours into the night.

“We’ve had a lot of bad luck with the April showers,” Fincher said. “We didn’t even get to hold the luminaria ceremony with the lantern release last year. We planned to do it another night, but it just never worked out.

“We’re hoping that May brings us better weather,” she added.

The 2014 event has been scheduled for May 9, 2014, at J.P. Cain Stadium. The plans were announced Oct. 15 during the kickoff at First Baptist Church of Hartselle.

Fincher also noted that the local theme for Hartselle’s Relay event is Rock Around the Clock for a Cure, based on the classic Bill Haley song. Thus, she is hoping that teams will embrace the happy days theme of the 1950s.

After raising nearly $88,000 in 2013, Fincher wants Hartselle to take its fundraising to another level.

“Our goal is $100,000 and 50 teams,” Fincher said. “Last year was the largest number of teams we ever had. We think more will turn out again this year.”

Relay for Life of Morgan-Hartselle will have team captain meetings on the first Tuesday of every month at First Baptist Church until the event is held. For more information, log on to www.relayforlife.org and search for the Hartselle-Morgan event.