Katie Jackson spent her formative years fighting cancer. Her inspirational story was shared with more than 50 people who attended last Thursday’s Leeds-Moody Relay for Life kick-off event.

During the Leeds-Moody Relay for Life kick-off event last week, cancer survivor Katie Jackson of Birmingham inspired nearly 50 attendees to keep up the fight against cancer.

Jackson was diagnosed with a brain tumor when she was 2 years old. When she was 5, the cancer manifested itself as bone cancer, which returned when she was 10.

During her last bout with cancer, her mother’s students at Samford University formed a Relay for Life team in honor of Jackson, which sparked an interest in the organization. Relay for Life is currently the largest American Cancer Society fundraiser of the year, and draws 3.5 million people per year to walk through the night to celebrate survivors, remember those who have lost their lives to cancer and to fight back against the disease for future generations.

Today, Jackson serves as the publicity chair for the Hoover Relay for Life, and shares her story of hope across the area.

“The great thing about Relay for Life is that everyone there has been touched by cancer,” Jackson said. “I really want to encourage y’all to go out and fight, and some day, this disease will be in the history books.”

The Leeds-Moody Relay for Life is scheduled for April 15. For more information on how to get involved, contact local event chair Candace Reed at 205-640-4327 or visit www.relayforlife.org/leedsmoody.