CHENANGO COUNTY ­– Paint the County Purple (PTCP), part of the American Cancer Society's and the Chenango Relay For Life Paint the Town Purple, kicks off May 1, and organizers are eagerly gearing up in an effort to allow businesses and schools more time to prepare their displays of support.

“We’ve just started to introduce Paint The County Purple to Chenango County, primarily as a way to let people know that Relay For Life is on it’s way,” said an enthusiastic Marie DeSarro, Chenango Relay For Life co-chair. Over the past two years, organizers have been looking to increase community involvement in the event hoping to create a ripple effect which will get even more people interested.

A former committee member, Wendie Hutchings, began bringing restaurants and bars into the fold with just that in mind. Already, special PTCP placemats and napkins are being handed out to local eateries and businesses which are in turn asked to use them on May 1, showing their support. The committee has since been trying to expand its efforts to involve even more businesses beyond restaurants.

“The biggest change that we’re hoping for this year is to have even more involvement ... giving people even more of a 'heads-up' about the date, and what they can do to show their support,” added DeSarro.

Organizers are also working on a few other new things for this year’s PTCP Day, sending out invitations to elected officials throughout Chenango County and inviting them to issue proclamations declaring May 1 as “GO PURPLE for Relay For Life.” Purple balloons will also be handed out to businesses to decorate their storefronts and establishments are invited to do more as they see fit. Organizers also hope to set up a central location on May1 in Norwich’s East Park, where information on the upcoming Relay For Life will be made available.