POULSBO — After raising $115,000 locally for cancer research last year, the American Cancer Society has set its sights on $125,000 as the 2006 North Kitsap Relay for Life campaign begins Sunday.

A benefit breakfast at the Poulsbo Sons of Norway lodge will get the ball rolling at 9 a.m. Sunday for the event, which is slated for July 15-16 at the North Kitsap High School track.

“We already have 22 teams verbally committed, but our goal is to have 36 this year,” said ACS regional development director Linda Hill, who is organizing the NK Relay for Life event.

Most of last year’s teams have been contacted, but organizers are always looking for more, Hill said.

As a regional development director, Hill said she hasn’t had the opportunity to be as hands-on with Relay for Life in the past as she has been this year.

“I really enjoy working with volunteers and seeing it all come together,” she said.

For volunteers who are selected to be team captains, the ACS will be hosting a team captain university in Silverdale in March to provide new ideas on fund-raising as well as increasing involvement and awareness of the event.

While the dates and fund-raising goal for this year’s event have been unveiled, its theme will remain a mystery, at least until this weekend.

“The theme won’t be revealed until Sunday at the breakfast,” Hill said.

Last year’s theme was Relay Roundup, which emphasized Western attire, and the 2004 theme was Champions for a Cure.