There’s less than a month now until Relay for Life of Suffolk, and fundraisers are happening all around that you can help support — and at some of them, you can get some yummy food, too.

The fundraisers are ubiquitous this time of year, but, unfortunately, so is cancer all year long. If you’re old enough to read this column, your life has been affected by cancer. Perhaps you have lost a grandparent, parent, sibling, child or grandchild, uncle or aunt or cousin to cancer or celebrated their survival with them. Those whose family hasn’t been touched are few and far between, but even they eventually will know of a friend, a neighbor or a coworker who will have cancer.

Relay for Life is an annual event that is as much a cathartic process as it is a fundraiser. Yes, it brings in donations for the American Cancer Society. But it also allows people to join teams and fight together; to feel like they have a say in the grip this disease has over them; to do something to support their loved ones who are fighting or have fought the disease; to walk the first lap of the event as a survivor or a caregiver; to honor and remember their loved ones at the emotional luminaria ceremony.

This year’s Relay for Life will take place from 6 p.m. to midnight May 18 at Nansemond River High School, 3301 Nansemond Parkway. An important related event is the survivor’s reception, which takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. May 9 at the Planters Club.

In the meantime, Relay fundraisers such as the Titan Contractors Inc.-hosted golf tournament on May 4 at Sleepy Hole Golf Course and the Italian dinner at Whaleyville United Methodist Church on April 21 will allow folks to have a good time while doing their part in the fight against cancer.

If you’re not already involved, we hope you’ll take time the next month to support one or more of the fundraisers that are happening throughout the city and then show up at the main event on May 18 to show your support.

More information on Relay and the fundraisers can be found at relay.org/suffolkva.