Volunteers painted the town purple Saturday with numerous events that raised cancer awareness and funds for Dawson County Relay for Life.

From car washes, yard sales and motorcycle rides to lemonade stands and cookouts, Relay for Life teams collected hundreds and helped spread the word about the fight against cancer.

Terry Pisell, team captain for the Dawson County Middle School team, said Relay for Life's Paint the Town Purple event was a great opportunity for his students to be actively involved in the cause.

"We have 22 students in our Relay for Life club, which gives students the experience of helping out in the community as well as helps them develop their resumes," he said.

The group, which offered free carwashes on Saturday in downtown Dawsonville, has a number of fundraisers planned in the next few weeks leading up to Relay for Life, an overnight event that will be held May 18 at Veterans Memorial Park.

"We've had pajama day and hat day at the school and on May 4, we'll have a softball game against the Dawson County Sheriff's Office," Pisell said.

The softball game will be held at 4 p.m. at the middle school.

Purple is the American Cancer Society's color to signify all cancer survivors.

Dawson County Relay for Life's annual survivor dinner is planned for 6 p.m. tomorrow at Dawson County High School.

For more information on Relay for Life or to register a team, call Suzanne Hendricks at (770) 297-1176, Ext. 29062.