SMOKEY POINT — Last year, James Clark hoped to help those who were coping with cancer and those interested in working on their New Year’s resolutions at the same time.

“If your New Year’s resolution is to lose some weight, what better way to do it than a 5K?” asked Clark, who graduated from Arlington High School this year and is organizing his second annual 5K walk or run fundraiser for Jan. 7, 2012, to help support his Relay for Life team next year.

For three years, Clark took part in the annual Relay for Life in Marysville as part of Kickin’ It for Cancer, the team organized by his mother, Linda Clark. Once Arlington got its own Relay for Life, though, James Clark split off from his mom’s team to start his own, which raised funds for the American Cancer Society in his hometown of Arlington.

“We did it in Marysville before because that was all there was,” said James Clark, whose team is Cross Country for a Cure. “We hope to raise even more than the $2,300 we raised for the Arlington Relay for Life last year, and we need your help.”

Clark feels strongly connected to this cause because both his uncle and his grandfather passed away from cancer, and he chose this outlet because of his passions.

“I just love running cross country,” Clark said. “Besides, I’m pretty competitive. More importantly, I don’t want anyone else to have to go through the loss that my family went through.”

The race starts at 10 a.m. at the Stillaguamish Athletic Club, located at 4417 172nd St. NE in Arlington. All proceeds raised will go to Clark’s Relay for Life team, and in turn to the American Cancer Society.

For more information or to register, log onto crosscountry4acure.weebly.com or email Clark at xc4acure@hotmail.com. For safety reasons, no skateboards, inline skates, bikes or dogs will be allowed on the course.