Dexter's Annual Relay for Life Draws Large Crowd

Dexter’s annual Relay for Life walk-a-thon is in full swing this afternoon in Monument Park.

The event has drawn people from all walks of life, throughout Dexter and its surrounding communities; all are on hand in support of the fight against cancer.

“It’s a really carefree event,” said Nicky Smith, entertainment director for the American Cancer Society relay. “There’s not a lot of rules. It’s really just a fun environment to be around.”

Beginning at 9 a.m., 16 teams stepped onto the path circling the park, and began their 24-hour walks, which will end at 9 a.m. Saturday morning.

Clad in colorful T-shirts, members of each team – made up of cancer patients and survivors, as well as friends and family – take turns carrying their individualized “spirit stick," batons they pass off to one another throughout the day.

“For me, telling people that we are going to find a cure, and that there is hope is the greatest thing about this whole thing,” said Deborah Brown, who survived a 10-year battle with cervical cancer.

Packed into tents throughout the park are the various team stations, as well as a variety of Dexter businesses raising money for Relay for Life.

And as the evening gives way to the night, said Smith, teams will take turns sleeping in the tents they have set up so that “those that need to crash for a couple hours can.”

Throughout the day and night ,a variety of live musical performances will take place in the park’s gazebo. Numerous activities were also scheduled, including a scavenger hunt (1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.), an auction (3 p.m. – 5 p.m.) and a euchre tournament (10 p.m. – midnight).

A pancake breakfast will also be served from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. Sunday.

Alex Garnepudi, an American Cancer Society staff partner for the event, said that while there are 204 registered walkers,  he expected a much larger crowd.

"The amount of traffic is expected to be much higher because of the awesome location,” he said, referring to the relay's new location at Monument Park.

Relay for Life began in 1985 when Dr. Gordy Klatt, a physician from Tacoma, WA, went out walking on a track in support of the fight against cancer, and began taking donations for his effort.

Now, more than 5,000 events take place throughout the world each year, in 19 different countries.  

According to Garnepudi, the donation goal for this year’s Dexter relay is $71,000.