Eighteen Georgia Power employees will help fight cancer by running from Savannah to Columbus as part of an annual, 410-mile relay to benefit the American Cancer Society.

The relay is a joint initiative of Alabama Power and Georgia Power, both subsidiaries of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO). It begins April 27 in Savannah on the Georgia coast.

Runners from Georgia Power will hand the baton to Alabama Power runners on April 30 near the Alabama-Georgia line in Columbus. The Georgia Power runners are expected to pass through Statesboro, Augusta, Athens, Atlanta, Fayetteville and Manchester before passing the baton in Columbus.

Georgia Power runners will be divided into three teams with six runners each, running in relay fashion. Each participant is expected to run five 4.5 mile-legs, totaling about 410 miles over the course of three days. The runners will be supported by other employees who will follow the teams in recreational vehicles.

"This relay is something that we have been doing since 1998. Our fundraising efforts go toward fighting cancer, which touches everyone in some way." said Georgia Power employee Bert Davis, chairman of the Georgia Power Relay for Georgia.

“We are especially committed to the 2002 Relay because Georgia Power runners are dedicating this run to our fellow employee Ron Hart, who lost his battle to cancer on April 13,” Davis said.

Overall, the relay is expected to raise more than $160,000 for the American Cancer Society chapters in Georgia and Alabama. The money will come from corporate sponsorships and from donations solicited by individual runners. All the money raised in Georgia will go toward cancer society efforts within the state.

Here`s the route and tentative arrival times as the runners travel through Georgia.

Saturday April 27: 1:30 p.m.- Relay starts at Savannah Electric Building. The runners will follow Hwy 80 North into Statesboro 9:07 p.m.- Arrive in Statesboro and continue run until merging onto Highway 25 at Hopeulikit.

Sunday April 28: 9:00 a.m.- Arrive in Augusta. Runners will merge onto Highway 78 in Augusta 11:55 p.m. - Arrive in Athens.

Monday April 29: 6:47 a.m.- Run through Snellville 7:58 a.m. - Arrive at the entrance to Stone Mountain Park 11:00 a.m. - Arrive at 241 Ralph McGill Boulevard. Run through downtown Atlanta. 12:30 p.m.- Run through Forest Park. Runners will merge onto Highway 85 for the remainder of the run. 2:14 p.m.– Run through Fayetteville.

Tuesday April 30: 2:00 a.m. – Approach the outskirts of Columbus 3:04 a.m. - Run by St. Francis Medical Center in Augusta. 3:52 a.m. – Hand off baton to Alabama Power runners at the GA/AL state line.