McLean County Relay for Life changes site, hours

Relay for Life
McLean County Relay for Life will be held June 26-27 at Normal Community High School. (Photo by B Corbin/WJBC)

By Eric Stock

NORMAL – McLean County Relay for Life organizers are hoping less is more this year.

The relay will be an 18-hour event on June 26-27 instead of the usual 24. Chairwoman Dede Verplaetse told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin, starting at 4 p.m. Friday will hopefully give volunteers and team members more time to get to the relay in time.

“It is easier to get all of their teams there by 4,” Verplaetse said. Closing ceremonies will be held at 10 a.m. on that Saturday.

The event will also be moved from Normal West to Normal Community High School to make way for a new ‘5K for Life’ run.

“We don’t have all the houses backed right up to the track,” Verplaetse said. “As we are growing, this is just another move we have to make.”

There will be a softball tournament at Champion Fields next door at the same time, so parking would be limited.

McLean County has had one of the top fundraising relays in the country.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

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