Relay For LifeBloomington, Illinois – June 28,2014 – Relay For Life of McLean County recently completed celebrating its 20th anniversary during this year’s event which ran for 24 hours, from 12 Noon Friday, June 27 through 12 Noon Saturday, June 28 at Normal Community West High School.

This year’s event raised a total of $364,512 with a total of 1,000 participants on 110 teams circling the track around Wildcats Field for a full 24-hours, and enjoying numerous activities.

When Bill & Freida Talbert put the very first Relay For Life event together in McLean County in 1995, they raised $63,894.45 thanks to 22 teams of 12-14 people, and were able to honor 26 survivors. This year’s event honored nearly 400 survivors with a dinner and during a moving “Survivor Walk” around the track surrounding Wildcat Field.

Of this year’s event, Dede Verplaetse, spokeswoman for Relay For Life of McLean County, said, “We are proud to be able to look back at how much fun we have had while being able to raise money to finish the fight against cancer.”

Among those who visited our Relay this year was Nancy Yaw, executive vice president of the Lake Shore Division of the American Cancer Society. During her visit to our Relay, she met with Relay organizing committee members, many volunteers, and cancer survivors. Relay For Life of McLean County was very honored by her visit.

To date, Relay For Life of McLean County has raised $7,613,633 since the first Relay event was held here in 1995. The current fiscal year for Relay For Life of McLean County will end on August 31, allowing for donations to be applied to our 2014 Relay total.

More information may be obtained by contacting either Dede Verplaetse (VER-plates) at 309-261-5521 or Steve Robinson at 309-242-7838.

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