McLean County Relay for Life brings in $271,000

Relay for Life at NCHS
The Normal Community High School gym was part of the venue for the 2015 McLean County Relay for Life. (Laura Ewan/WJBC)

By Adam Studzinski

NORMAL – The McLean County Relay for Life at Normal Community High School has raised $271,000 for cancer research.

That was the total at the end of the Relay Saturday morning, according to Chairwoman Dede Verplaetse. She said they entered Friday afternoon with $230,000. While they are still short of the $400,000 goal, Verplaetse said there’s still time to donate.

“We have some teams that are planning some fundraisers in the next couple weeks,” said Verplaetse. “Our fiscal year goes until Aug. 31 and so we still have time to do some online fundraising as well so that we can make that goal.”

Verplaetse said she’s “pretty confident” they can reach the goal.

Relay was moved inside for the first time in its 21 year history. Verplaetse said that provided a challenge.

“We have found that we can do it (and) that we can do it successfully,” she said.

Anyone can donate by heading to RelayForLife.org and searching for McLean County, Ill.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].

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