Little legs will be on the move next week as Osborne Elementary gears up for its first mini Relay For Life event.

A total of 47 students in Jamie Chappell's, Kevin Top-per's, Mary Leonard's and Vicki Shaughnessy's kindergarten classes will be walking for a cure for cancer from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. May 16.

Shaughnessy said she has been involved with the American Cancer Society for four years, ever since her mother passed away from the disease. When she brought the idea to incorporate the annual Relay for Life event into the elementary school, Chappell jumped on board.

"It teaches kids that even small people can make a big difference."

They also saw it as an opportunity to get more Se-wickley Valley families in-volved in the larger Relay For Life event by starting at a smaller level.

Coinciding with the mini relay, teachers will teach lessons in the classroom about sun safety as well as the American Cancer Society Relay for Life's mission to "celebrate, remember and fight back."

"We'll talk about what those words mean. We'll have fun making a difference by raising money," Shaughnessy said.

The four kindergarten teachers challenged their students, with the help of their parents, to find 10 sponsors. All of the money from sponsors will be collected and donated to the American Cancer Society the day of the relay

In addition to raising money through sponsors, other fundraising events have been going on at the school.

The older students took part in a Penny Wars fundraiser and teachers participated in salad days and dress-down days to help raise money. So far, they've collected $2,000 of their $2,500 goal.

Shaughnessey said the Relay For Life is especially important to the Sewickley Valley because of the number of people affected by the disease.

Research done by Shaugh-nessey indicted approximately 470 people in the Quaker Valley and Avonworth school districts have cancer. The 470 individuals will be represented by a purple chain with as many paper links.

Kindergarten students also are making hand prints to signify hope.

"It's a tribute to show we have hope that we will find a cure and be a cancer-free world someday," Shaughnes-sey said.

So far, the teachers said they've had an overwhelming amount of support from Barbara Mellett, Osborne principal, and the office staff including Alanna Savage, Karen Schurman and Rita Kramer.

They also have received donations from the community. Safran's Supermarket will be providing hot dogs, buns and beverages for the participants, and Heritage Valley Sewickley is donating money to buy T-shirts for the students.