Area softball teams ranging in age from 11 to adult will gather together Saturday to play ball for a good cause.

The Relay for Life team Rivera Screenprinting and Embroidery is sponsoring this second-time event to raise money for donation to the American Cancer Society, event chairman James Bumbala said.

For 12 hours, starting at 9 a.m., teams will take turn scoring runs in a fundraising competition at Kohler Park. Funds are raised in a variety of ways. First, through entry fees for the players of $25, but also through a raffle and through corporate and personal donations.

Many of the members of the Relay for Life team, Bumbala explained, are cancer survivors. For those who have not personally struggled with the disease, their lives have been touched by someone who has fought it.

In order to further research to combat and treat cancer, the team wanted to do more than the single event. Last year was the first annual 12-Hour Coed Softball Game. The structure allows for teams of 10 to 12 to compete in a day-long event. At the end of the day, the winning team will be the one with the most runs batted.

“The theme of the fund raiser is ‘Let's Hit Cancer Out of the Ballpark,’” Bumbala noted.

Raffle tickets will be sold for $3 each or two for $5 until 7 p.m. on game day. All the funds donated will be given to Relay for Life during the event on June 14.

“Our goal is to raise $4,000 this year,” Bumbala said. “Softball is a great sport for everyone to play and have fun. I encourage everybody, players or fans, to attend the softball event to show their thoughts for someone they know who are being stricken by cancer.”

Relay for Life gathers funds for the American Cancer Society, which is the second-largest funding source for cancer research after the United States Government. By donating funds, hope remains that a cure will be found for all those struggling with the disease.

To register, donate or learn more, contact Bumbala at jambala@sprint.blackberry.net or call Bev Rivera at 663-0816.