Things are off to a promising start for the 2010 Relay for Life, which begins at 7 tonight and runs through 7 a.m. Saturday.

Participation for the American Cancer Society event has reached a new high, organizers say.

“We have a record number of teams this year, 121,” said Eliza Baker, cancer society community manager.

“There are also (around 2,200) participants; that’s 500 more than we had last year.”

Like last year, the annual fundraiser will be held at Road Atlanta on Winder Highway in Braselton. However, instead of activities being centered near the rear of the venue, things have been relocated closer to Winder Highway.

“We’ll be near the paddock area, so (drivers) will be able to see it when they pull up,” Baker said.

Organizers are hoping the new location will help ease some of the transit issues participants and spectators experienced last year.

“Last year, we had people parking and just sort of walking for a mile without being sure exactly where they were going,” Baker said.

“This year, the longest possible walk (from the parking areas) will be around 10 minutes. There will also be reserved parking for the survivors and people needing handicap parking.”

All of the parking areas, reserved and general, will be clearly marked, so drivers shouldn’t have any problems there, Baker says.

Though organizers have adjusted the location of the festivities to accommodate attendees, there’s nothing they can do about the anticipated traffic congestion on the two-lane road leading up to the venue.

“Last year we had more than 20,000 people show up, so we are encouraging everyone to get there early,” Baker said.

Although the actual relay doesn’t begin until 7 p.m., Baker says that teams will have food for sale and activities for kids beginning at 5:30.