Ortonville- For the first time in several years, the Relay for Life of Brandon/Ortonville experienced an increase in numbers.
‘It went very well this year,? said Erin Bovan, volunteer lead of the event, held June 13. ‘This was the first year in four years that we experienced growth, increases in every way possible. We had 65 survivors, plus their caregivers at the event this year. That’s a great number. We actually exceeded our goal this year of raising over $30,000.?
That accomplishment earned the Brandon/Ortonville Relay the Pacesetter Award, national recognition from the American Cancer Society, given to organizers of relays which reach their goal within a week of the event.
Relay for Life is the signature fundraising event for the ACS. Participants celebrate, remember, and fight back against cancer as members of teams that commit to walking laps and garnering donations.
This was the eighth year for the local event, which had its inaugural year in 2008. Organizers made several alterations to the 2015 Relay for Life of Brandon/Ortonville due to falling attendance the past several years. Those changes included reducing the event to 14 hours from 24, changing it to the weekend before Father’s Day, and relocating it to Brandon Fletcher Intermediate School for better visibility from M-15. The event featured a car show this year, in addition to live entertainment, activities for children, and themed laps, including a survivor lap and luminaria lap.
Bovan noted that students from Harvey Swanson and Oakwood elementaries, as well as those from the intermediate school, were recognized for their efforts to raise money prior to the event. The students raised more than $4,000 to fight cancer.
Bovan thinks the 2015 changes were good for the event and she expects the 2016 relay will keep the alterations.
‘The community support always blows me away,? she said. ‘I would like to thank the general public for their support, as well as the planning committee and the sponsors, who continue to not only give money but come out and support us.?
Donations will continue to be accepted for the 2015 Relay up until Aug. 31. For more information, call Erin Bovan at 248-882-8932 or visit relayforlife.org.