Edwardsburg third-grader Kayla Tweedy believes the best part about Relay for Life is “walking and getting beads.”
“I have friends here and stuff, so it’s pretty fun,” she said.
The third-grader was a member of Scouting for a Cure, one of 22 teams that participated in the American Cancer Society fundraiser at Edwardsburg Public Schools Saturday.
The beads she was referring to are a fundraiser by the Pink Flamingo Flappers. Team member Rachele Dugger, of Granger, said they have held the fundraiser for three years.
Walkers purchase one lanyard for $3 or two for $5. For each lap around the “track” (parking lot), they receive a bead of their color of choice. For every four laps, they receive a dark-colored bead.
“The first year we did it, it was a big hit,” Dugger said. “It still is. It motivates them to walk more.”
This year’s Relay for Life included the Blues Brothers Revue, fire truck pull, pinewood derby races and other entertainment and fundraisers.
Chad King, Edwardsburg Relay for Life chairman, said this year’s effort raised $34,000 before the Relay even started Saturday.
“The turnout has been great,” he said, especially considering the Little League teams that have been competing and the start of the Cass County Fair that weekend.
The on-site fundraisers also generated money for the cause Saturday.
Fire truck pull teams paid $35 to enter the competition, and a live auction raised between $3,000 and $4,000.
The 2011 Edwardsburg Relay raised $56,000; the goal this year was $60,000, King said.