The local edition of the Relay For Life, an annual walk to raise money for the American Cancer Society, is taking place this weekend at Washtenaw Community College.
Friends, family, and cancer survivors attended Relay for Life at Washtenaw Community College on Saturday in hopes of raising $150,000. Promotions chair Julie Lubeck-Hofer says the the event raises a lot of awareness and the funding is important. Thirty-five teams are participating, which totals nearly 300 people. Funding is raised by sponsors and online donations.
Colon cancer survivor Jim Dolan says he and his family are happy to help and do what they can.
"This is one of the better ones," Dolan says. "We like it here." This is his seventh year participating.
Lubeck-Hofer was impressed by new participants and support. This year she saw student organizations getting involved. Her favorite portion of Relay for Life is the luminary ceremony, in which paper bags are illuminated with candles. "Every bag has a story," she says.
Lubeck-Hofer lost her mother, Sally, nine years ago to pancreatic cancer. "I'm able to remember her name," she says.
The event started at 10 a.m. Saturday and will conclude with an announcement of the fundraising total Sunday morning.
Photographer Daniel Brenner captured these images. For more information on the event, see the website.