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FAIRMONT - Martin County Relay for Life is coming a little sooner than normal this year.
For the past few years, Relay for Life had happened in September at the Martin County Fairgrounds. This year, it will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28 at the Knights of Columbus. Relay for Life Board Member Dana Faber said the change to July and the Knights of Columbus came after buggy conditions last year and a need to have a portion of it indoors.
"We have found that when we’re at a time of year where there could be high heat, it’s very hard for any cancer survivor because of chemo or radiation to tolerate the heat," she said. "In past years when it was hot, our relay looked like a ghost town. It would just be the relay committee and maybe a few people. We feel like this will be a much more intimate gathering where air conditioning is key to that, but we also have an outdoor area where we’ll have our luminaries and teams gathered and some games for kids out in the courtyard."
Also a change from past years, Relay for Life will be on a Tuesday instead of a Saturday. With the move to July, Faber said they wanted to maximize availability for people who often have mid-summer plans.
"A lot of times you have a family reunion on a weekend, or you have a wedding that you’re not going to miss," she said. "Maybe you have a ball game on Tuesday, but maybe you’ll stop in and walk through the luminaries and honor those people."
So far, response to the changes has been positive.
"If I could go by how many luminaries I’ve sold and how many people I’ve reached out to and have heard positive feedback, I’m pleased," Faber said. "We won’t know until how many people show up Tuesday night, and I always hope people will come out and support our survivors."
This year's Honorary Survivor is Vicki Nelsen, whose journey began Dec. 17, 2025, when a ruptured ulcer sent her to the emergency room and unveiled a mass in her uterus.
Nelsen then spent several months undergoing a hysterectomy and six rounds of chemotherapy with immunotherapy. Halfway through her treatment, a second PET scan showed the cancer shrinking, and last month, her scans came back clear.
Throughout all this time, Nelsen said she was able to lean on Relay for Life, an organization she had been with for several years before her diagnosis.
"Being part of Relay kept me grounded," she said. "I've watched survivors for years and years. Seeing how they went through things gave me strength. They supported me every step of the way."
Being named honorary survivor, Nelsen said it is quite an honor.
"My journey is no different than anyone else's," she said. "I hope I can be a voice for other survivors and make them feel as special as I do."
The event will also include a silent auction, a ceremony including the national anthem, a presentation of the flag by the Fairmont Color Guard, a survivor presentation, a lap following the ceremony, a live auction and a silent final lap to end the event.
With all of this, Faber said there is plenty she is looking forward to.
"I look forward to seeing the survivors that I’ve repeatedly seen over the years, and I look forward to remembering my friends that are no longer with us," she said. "I’m hoping to hear some laughter. I’m hoping to see a lot of smiles; I even hope to see some tears, and hopefully some of those tears are remembrance tears and happy tears. I want to take in the emotions and the feelings of the day."
For more information, visit facebook.com/groups/rflmartincountymn/.