VIDALIA — With the Mississippi River projected to crest at record-breaking levels in mid-May, Relay for Life officials find themselves swimming in a river of change.

Relay festivities were originally scheduled for May 6 and 7, but the possibility of a 60-foot crest on May 20 has forced the Relay crew to postpone the event until June 17.

Relay for Life Chair Bridgid Martin said the river should have declined enough by that time to have the event, but the festivities are subject to change again.

Vidalia Mayor Hyram Copeland said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expressed concerns about having Relay for Life on the Vidalia Riverfront.

“The height of the river for that day is projected to be right around the same height of the river walk,” he said. “We are just concerned about small children getting close to the river and getting injured. It’s all about safety.”

In 2008 Relay was also postponed until June due to high river levels.

“You just can’t control the river,” Copeland said.

Since 1996 the Miss-Lou has hosted the event, raising thousands of dollars for the American Cancer Society and creating a fun, friendly atmosphere for area residents to enjoy, and Martin said the move to June will not take away from any of that.

“Everything we have planned should stay the same,” she said. “All we are doing is changing the date.”

Martin said support for Relay is still going strong, as there are now approximately 60 teams competing to raise funds for the event.

“We have had seven new teams join in the past two weeks,” she said.

Martin said the additional teams and the extra month before Relay starts should help bring in more funds for the American Cancer Society.

“Everyone has an extra month to go out and raise some more money,” she said.

The river sat at 47.42 feet Thursday evening, and flood stage is 48 feet. Since Monday afternoon the river has climbed nearly 2 feet from its level of 45.5 feet.

The river is expected to rise above flood stage by Sunday and will continue to rise to near 60 feet by May 20, the National Weather Service has predicted.