High school seniors are busy people, but in the whirl of senior activities, Marietta High School senior girls are throwing a party with a purpose.

The annual Black and White Affair is Jan. 23 at 8 p.m. at the Earl Smith Strand Theatre. The event benefits the American Cancer Society.

"Every year, the senior girls pick a charity that usually means something to that class," said Emily Case, a senior at MHS who is part of the organizing committee.

This year's affair has particular meaning to Emily because it is dedicated to the memory of Emily's mother, Janet Case, who died of colon cancer in 2008. Emily, whose mother was diagnosed when she was just a sophomore, was touched by the class' choice of American Cancer Society.

"I wasn't in the process when they chose the charity," Emily said. "I was really honored that they would do that for me. It meant a lot to me."

The money raised will be designated toward colon cancer research, a lesser-known cancer but one that impacts so many, according to Emily.

"People are more worried about cancers you hear about like breast cancer," she said. "Colon cancer affects a lot more people than we realize. People need to be aware of it and know about it."

According the American Cancer Society Web site, www.cancer.org, colorectal cancer - not counting skin cancer - is the third most-common cancer found in men and women in this country. The risk of a person having colorectal cancer in their lifetime is about 1 in 19.

On the evening of the event, Emily and the other seniors planning the affair will wear blue, the color of the American Cancer Society, with everyone else in black or white.

"My mom was the glue that kept the family together. You don't really appreciate all that your mother or father do until you're left to take on the responsibilities of making dinner and laundry and everything," said the daughter of Mike Case.

"I know when my mother passed away, it affected a lot of people at school and not just myself. It just meant so much to me that they (senior girls) chose to do cancer."

If you would like to help the senior girls at MHS raise money for the American Cancer Society, send your check made payable to American Cancer Society to: Black and White at PMB270, 1000 Whitlock Avenue, Marietta 30064.