Dexter Relay for Life Organizers Change Date, Seek Volunteers

In an effort to attract more student groups from Dexter Community Schools to participate in this year's Relay for Life, event organizers are moving the event to Father's Day weekend.

The 24-hour fundraiser benefiting the American Cancer Society will take place June 15-16 at Monument Park in downtown Dexter.

"There used to be a lot of teams with Dexter students at the relay," Max Brennan, community coordinator for the American Cancer Society said. "Our volunteers thought we could attract more youth this year by moving the date to later in the summer."

In recent years the relay was held at the end of May, which conflicted with the Dexter High School prom.

Brennan said plans for the 2013 relay are taking shape, with seven teams already raising $10,985 for the ACS.

"The community enthusiasim for the Dexter Relay for Life is definitely present," he said. "I think by moving the date and adding more entertainment at Monument Park, we'll continue to grow the number of participants."

A kick-off information meeting will take place Feb. 28 at the Dexter District Library, located at 3255 Alpine St. Registration starts at 6:30 p.m., with the program running from 7 to 7:45 p.m.

"The kick-off meeting is really about bringing together our returning teams from last year, new teams, and people who might have an interest in getting involved with the relay," Brennan said. "It's a celebration of the money we raised in 2012 and the official start of planning for this year."

Brennan said Dexter's goal is to register 15 to 20 teams for the relay.

"The next four months will be focused on recruiting teams and developing a plan to have a strong youth presence at Monument Park," he said.

That plan includes brainstorming events, musical entertainment, and family-friendly activities to offer during the relay in order to attract more participation from local businesses and residents.

The Relay for Life is a 24-hour event, where teams of people camp out at Monument Park and take turns walking or running around a track. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event throughout the duration of the event.

For more information, or to volunteer, visit the Dexter Relay for Life website, or call Max Brennan at 248-663-3480.