Relay for Life raises nearly $50,000 years ago
Participants from around Marion County braved the heat Friday evening as relay teams walked for 12 hours at Tabor College track, Hillsboro, during the American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Marion County.
Nearly $50,000 in contributions were collected which included $8,700 of in-kind donations, and $40,400 cash, surpassing this year's goal of $40,000.
Chairman Peggy Blackman said 19 teams collected $28,500 toward the cause.
The three individuals who collected more than $1,000 each were Rosalie Rudolph, Phyllis Kreutziger, and Marge Sandwell.
Wheeler's Walkers collected more than $5,000. There were six teams that collected more than $2,000 each.
There were more than 1,500 luminarias with approximately 550 for those who have survived cancer and more than 1,000 for those who have died from the disease.
Prizes were given away during the evening.
They were: quilt made by Marie Kessler to Janet Herzet of Marion; Judy Claassen of Peabody received two round-trip tickets to anywhere in the U.S. Southwest Airlines flies, and Jeri Klose of Hillsboro received two tickets from AirTran Airways.
Blackman said she particularly appreciated the efforts of Golden Heritage Foods, LLC, of Hillsboro that was a corporate sponsor and had two relay teams. Other platinum sponsors of more than $1,000 were Hoch Publishing Company, Inc. and AirTran Airways.
Contributions are accepted through September by contacting a committee member or taken to Kevin Fruechting, Tampa State Bank, Marion.
