Dearborn Relay for Life Organizers Seek Volunteers

In a few weeks, the track at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center soccer field will be filled with cancer survivors raising money and awareness for a well-known cause: The American Cancer Society's Relay for Life.

Plans are already underway in Dearborn for the relay, set for April 27-28. Volunteers are needed to pull off the event, with a goal of $100,000, according to event chairwoman Alysia Schuler.

"Relay is going great this year. We’ve exceed our team goal for a total of 49 teams. We’ve also exceeded our sponsorship goal and raised more than $22,500," she said.

Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society's signature fundraiser. It offers residents in the community a chance to participate in the fight against cancer. Teams of people camp out at the soccer field, and take turns running or walking around a track. Each team has a representative on the track at all times for 24 hours to symbolize the fact that "cancer never sleeps."

"We have many new teams, with fresh ideas and interests in relay. We also have a dedicated committee that works well together, becoming one relay family," Schuler said.

Relay participant Denise Abdullah said event organizers are hoping to attract more area cancer survivors for the relay's opening "survivors lap" that takes place at 10 a.m. April 27. The goal is to have at least 80 cancer survivors attend the relay, she said.

"Participation has fluctuated over the years. It’s difficult not to make a correlation to the dip in the economy," she said. " Last year, there were several city events the same weekend as relay. It was also held on Mother’s Day. This year, across the board, participation is on the rise, from the number of teams to the number of registered participants to the number of sponsors."

Abdullah said event organizers are hoping to attract more area cancer survivors for the relay's opening "survivors lap" that takes place at 10 a.m. April 27.

Throughout the 24-hour relay, participants and visitors can enjoy free family-friendly games and live music at the track. Last year's "five pies and a poncho" fundraiser with officials from Dearborn Public Schools and the city of Dearborn is also returning to the event. A full entertainment schedule is available on the Dearborn Relay website.

"We are planning some very lively nighttime fun for our dedicated teams who stay awake throughout the night," Schuler said.

Abdullah said volunteers are needed to help with setup, clean up, and running the event. In addition, there is still time to register a relay team.

For more information, visit www.relayforlife.org/dearbornmi and click on "Start a team,"  or email Alysia Schuler at alysiarelay@yahoo.com.

Relay for Life fundraiser

The Cool Chicks relay team has participated in the Dearborn Relay for Life for the past seven years. The team started as a group of young breast cancer survivors. The team's goal is to educate young women on preventive measures against breast cancer. 

The Cool Chicks team will host a dine-to-donate event at Leo’s Coney Island on Ford Road and Greenfield on April 11. A portion of the day's sales will be donated to the team to help reach its fundraising goal of $7,500.