RFL of Greater Shelby Township April 2026 Newsletter
Three Rules for a Safe and Successful Relay
Relay For Life of Greater Shelby Township is happening this Saturday May 16. Please remember the following three rules and communicate them clearly to your teams. They are so important to a safe and healthy event.
- No dogs or pets are allowed at this event. Participants or their guests with dogs or pets will be asked to leave. Service dogs that are trained to do work or perform a task for persons with disabilities are allowed, but comfort and/or emotional support animals are not. Please make this very clear to anyone you invite.
- There is no smoking or vaping at this event. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited as well.
- Between 12:00 pm and 6:00 pm, no bicycles, roller blades, or skateboards are allowed on the track. Wheelchairs, strollers, and wagons are allowed.
Your Team Could Win $500 At Relay!
Our last recruitment challenge for all teams participating in the Relay For Life of Greater Shelby Township is upon us. The team with the most registered members by noon May 16 (at the event) will win $500. Team Final Round won the first two challenges and the question is, will they win it again?
20/20 Vision for a Cure in 2026 Schedule
The 2026 Relay For Life of Greater Shelby Township, scheduled for Saturday May 16, 2026, at River Bends Park. This year’s event will be held from 12:00 noon to 6:00 pm. Below is the schedule for the event.
Day of the Event Awards
The ELT will be on the lookout for the following at the event:
Best Decorated Campsite
Most Spirited Team
Event MVP
Any team can win, so show up ready to compete for this year’s honors.
Fundraisers
Ketchup for Cancer Plant Sale: Charlie’s Angels will have vegetable plants available for sale at the event. First come, first served with these always great plants!
2026 Novelty Glasses: Robin’s Raiders will have 2026 Glasses available to get you in the 20/20 Vision for a Cure theme. Many colors to choose from. $2 each or 3 for $5. These would make great graduation photo booth props too!
Last Minute Information from our Fearless Leader April Busch
Can you believe that our Relay is only a few days away? I don’t know about you, but I am so excited!!! Please take the time to read everything!
- Setup times for teams: Saturday morning at 9:00am or after, but please be ready to go by noon as we are starting at 12:00 pm sharp! Campsites will be marked so you know where to set up. More info for team captains here.
- The “what to bring” list link is here. Remember that it’s Michigan so we could get any kind of weather! Remember that we Relay rain or shine!
- SUNBLOCK! I can’t say this enough, bring sunblock! Relay For Life is not the event where you want to get a sunburn. Make sure you have a sunblock with at least spf 30 and here’s the biggest thing….REAPPLY! Remember that you can still get a sunburn in cloudy weather.
- Clean up: please pick up all of your garbage by the end of the event. We want to represent the American Cancer Society and our event well so that we are able to keep using this venue. Also, the Event Leadership Team is made up of volunteers, so we don’t want to make them clean up after the teams.
- T-shirts: Remember that shirts will not be available at the event this year. Once you raise $100 you will get a link emailed to you to order your shirt. Survivors will be asked their size during online registration but they do not have to raise funds to get the shirt. All shirts will be mailed to your home address. Please make sure your teams know this.
- Luminaria bags can be put out first thing in the morning as we will have them out all day. They can be weighed down by whatever you’d like (sand, canned goods, water bottles, etc.). If you are planning to put any kind of a light in yours you can do that before the luminaria ceremony starts although it will still be daylight out.
- We will be having a silent auction and your team is welcome to put items in it. We will have forms available at the event. (Carolyn has sent emails with the details)
- If you are on Facebook please start a Facebook fundraiser! To start one go to the Relay website and log in. Then scroll down to the big blue box that talks about facebook fundraising and follow the directions! It’s so easy!
- Our fundraising challenge is already on and goes through Thursday. Prizes from the challenge can be picked up at the info tent at Relay. (we will not be doing a Matching Donation Challenge this year). See flyer here.
- The registration challenge ends on the day of the event (May 16th) at 3pm! Have the most team members registered by then to earn $500 to be credited to your team on your fundraising page!
- Survivors should check in at the info tent near the stage when they arrive to pick up their goodie bag (limited to the first 50 survivors to check in). Check in starts at 11am. We will have a very limited amount of Survivor Shirts available if yours does not arrive before Saturday.
2026 Meeting Schedule:
Attending meetings introduces you to your fellow Relayers and gets you up to speed on all your Relay needs.
Where: Shelby Township Activities Center – 14975 21 Mile Rd, Shelby Twp.
Who: Event Leadership Team (ELT) meets at at 5:30 to socialize with official meeting beginning at 6:00
Team Leads and Volunteers meet at 7:00 (come to the ELT meeting if they are interested)
When:
Thursday May 14 – the last meeting before Relay, also known as Bank Night. If you have donations you want to turn in before Relay, this is an excellent time to do so. Unlike our other meetings, this is on a drop-in basis. Ask questions, pick up supplies, and say hello to your ELT!
Thursday June 18 – 2026 wrap up and event review
Our American Cancer Society Team Partner
We could not hold this event if not for our very own American Cancer Society Partner April Busch. If you need more info about American Cancer Society or our event, you can reach her at april.busch@cancer.org or (810) 858-7246.