A Cherokee County high school student is using a class project to raise money for organizations that help cancer patients.

Kelly Linz, 17, daughter of Chris and Teresa Linz of Hickory Flat, will put on a two-day tennis tournament at the Cherokee Tennis Center in Woodstock on Sept. 3 and 4.

The tournament will start at 6 p.m. on Sept. 3, and 8 a.m. Sept 4. Registration is $30 plus a can of tennis balls and includes a T-shirt. Players must be registered by Aug. 24.

Proceeds from the matches will be given to Camp Sunshine, an Atlanta-based nonprofit that offers recreational, educational and support programs for children with pediatric cancer, and Northside Hospital's Breast Care Program, which provides women with education, screening, diagnosis and health care.

Kelly, a senior at Sequoyah High School, is organizing the fundraiser as part of her senior project.

Senior projects at the county's high schools count for a percentage of a student's grade in the class. They include research, a project and a presentation before a board of community members.

Kelly said she wants to raise at least $1,000 and sign up at least 32 teams. A few teams already have registered.

She said she decided to raise money for organizations that help people through trying times during their cancer battles.

Her grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and recently had a double mastectomy.

"I really feel for those families who have to go through that," she said.

She added that organizations like Camp Sunshine bring light into the lives of children who suffer from cancer.

Lindsey Monroe, special events coordinator with Camp Sunshine, said she was excited to hear about Kelly's fundraising efforts.

"It's amazing," she added. "It's such a good feeling [to know] there are people in the community that care about what we do."

Ms. Monroe said there are 20 active Camp Sunshine participants who live in Cherokee and 27 volunteers and children from Cherokee who've graduated from the summer camp program.

Kelly said she wants to give away prizes such as free tennis lessons and free stringing for racquets. She's looking for local businesses to donate prizes as well as items for a possible silent auction or raffle.

Donna Crousse, a neighbor who plays tennis with Kelly's parents, is helping with the project.

"I think she's done a remarkable job," she said. "I would like to see it be an overwhelming success."

Kelly is on Sequoyah High's tennis team and is a member of the Beta Club, National Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Once she graduates, she wants to earn a business degree and open a veterinarian clinic. As for colleges, the senior noted she's looking at Oglethorpe University, Berry College and Kennesaw State University.

Kelly said she hopes people will support the event as everyone knows at least one person who has been directly affected by cancer.

"We hear about it all the time," she said.