Hundreds Fight Back Against Cancer During 2012 Relay for Life in Dexter

A sea of purple filled Monument Park in Dexter on Saturday for the sixth annual .

Hundreds of participants donned purple "Hope" T-shirts and walked a track around the park for 24 hours to help bring awareness for the American Cancer Society's (ACS) fight against the deadly disease.

"Today is a special day," Alex Garnepudi, a community engagement manager for ACS said. "We're fighting back against cancer, a disease that takes so many lives from us. Survivorship is a wonderful thing that we can all celebrate together. All of these people dressed in purple reminds me of what hope looks like."

Dexter joined 18 other communities across Southeast Michigan hosting similar events for National Relay for Life weekend. Garnepudi said during the past 10 years, more than $14 million has been raised for cancer research through relay for life events in Michigan.

Village Trustee Jim Smith, whose wife is a 15-year breast cancer survivor, said seeing the community come together for the relay every year is a lot of fun.

"The Relay for Life has become a very popular and important event for our community," he said. "It's nice to see folks come out and spend some time with their neighbors."

Resident Mark Olexa was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2011, and said since the diagnosis he has had a new outlook on life.

"I'm actually glad I got cancer," he said. "You go to the brink of death and it's like you are reborn with a fresh lease on life. I see things differently now and support others as often as I can, whether it's through tornado clean up or the Relay for Life."

While some attendees came to honor loved ones who passed away from cancer, others walked to support friends and family newly diagnosed with the disease.

Holly Kipfmiller attended the relay with a team of co-workers from in Dexter.

"We wanted to support our broker, Barbara Lunarde, who was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago," she said. "It's been very good for Barbara to know that she's not alone."

Kipfmiller said last year the team came in second place for fundraising, and this year hoped to raise even more money through bake sales and other fundraisers.

"Every minute of being part of the Relay for Life has been worth it," she said. "We'll keep going as long as we can."

Garnepudi said last year's relay teams raised $60,000 for the ACS. As of this posting, the final total raised from the 2012 relay was unavailable.