Dowagiac’s 2012 Relay for Life is a pacesetter, sitting at more than $15,000 of its $75,000 goal ahead of the annual 24-hour American Cancer Society Inc. fundraiser from 10 a.m. Saturday, July 21, to 10 a.m. Sunday, July 22, behind Union High School.

The Athletic and Physical Education CompleX (APEX) track behind DUHS will be filled with 27 teams walking to raise money to fight cancer.

“We expect 500 to 600 people,” Katie Pedersen, community representative for Great Lakes Division of the ACS in Portage, said Monday afternoon.

Pedersen said Relay, which started in Dowagiac in 1997, made more than $70,000 in 2011.

This is Diana Bower’s final year as chair.

Donate online at www.relayforlife.org/dowagiacmi.

Scheduled events

July 21

• 9 a.m. — Survivor registration opens.

• 10 a.m. — Opening ceremony and survivor/caregiver victory lap, followed by survivor brunch.

• Noon — Judging begins for best-decorated tent, most spirited team and best-dressed team.

• 2 p.m. — Free haircuts — if you donate eight inches of your locks.

• 3:30 p.m. — Team captains meet in survivor tent.

• 4 p.m. — Fight back ceremony.

• 5 p.m. — Live auction with John Suseland until 7.

• 6 p.m. — Hula Hoop lap.

• 7 p.m. — Knight Winds sword fight show.

• 8 p.m. — Encore Dance Studios.

• 8 p.m. — Luminaria set-up (keep bags a foot apart).

• 9 p.m. — Singer.

• 10 p.m. — Luminaria ceremony (concession closes).

• Midnight — Carrot Top game by Keller Crusaders.

• Midnight — Purple Mustache lap — Midwest Energy.

July 22

• 1 a.m. — Egg lap.

• 1:30 a.m. — Glow in the dark lap.

• 2 a.m. — Pajama lap.

• 2:30 a.m. — Crazy hat lap.

• 4 a.m. — Create a costume contest.

• 5 a.m. — Musical scavenger hunt.

• 6 a.m. — Rooster-calling contest.

• 7 a.m. — Hula Hoop lap.

• 9 a.m. — Raffle drawing.

• 10 a.m. — Closing ceremony.