When it comes to preparing for an event on the scale of the Relay for Life of Whidbey Island, there’s no such thing as starting too early.

The organizing committee for the 2014 event in Oak Harbor has already held its first meeting with a second one planned for today. Seventeen teams, consisting of 53 participants, have already signed up and help raise more than $1,100 for the island’s American Cancer Society fundraising event, which will take get underway the evening of May 30 at North Whidbey Middle School.

Leandra Reuble, chairperson of the event, said she is seeking more organizing committee members. There are about 25 members, a number she’d like to raise to 40.

“The more help we have, the more internal support there is for the entire event,” she said.

Reuble, an English and leadership teacher at Midway High School, said those interested in becoming a committee member may reach her at 360-678-0823 or lereuble@ohsd.net

Those who want to participate in the relay may sign up at the website at www.relayforlife.org by typing “Oak Harbor” into the event search.

The Whidbey Island event was well attended this year with 75 teams raising $158,499 to help fight cancer and increase awareness of the disease. Reuble said that although the fundraising goals fell short, participation at the Whidbey Island event was sizable compared to locations in Whatcom and Skagit and counties and some events in Snohomish County. She said 920 people registed online in 2013 and estimated a couple thousand people participated.

Reuble wanted to emphasize that the Relay for Life of Whidbey Island is an island-wide event.

She said the first rally for the event will be Nov. 13 at the Oak Harbor Elks Lodge.