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Efforts to revitalize fundraising for cancer research may have wilted Friday as the Relay for Life of Rock County fell short of surpassing last year’s amount.
As of Monday, the group of 11 teams comprising 126 individuals raised $27,784 with some donations still expected.
“We are confident we will hit our $30,000 goal,” said this year’s chairperson Merecie Domagala. “We still have this week at Glen’s Food Center for donating at the registers.”
Last year the event raised just over $36,000.
Friday’s event was Rock County’s 16th year participating in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event.
According to the ACS’s website, Relay for Life celebrates the lives of people who have battled cancer, remembers loved ones lost and raises monies to fight back against the disease. Portions of the monies also go toward administration and advocacy at the state and federal levels.
Instead of completing an actual relay by walking around the course from sundown to sunrise, this year’s teams did a ceremonial walk around the city park in Luverne after the team introductions.
Friday’s local event began with a 5:30 p.m. meal and ended with the closing ceremonies at 10:30 p.m.
Between the supper and closing ceremonies were special events including the survivors’ walk, balloon release and lighting of the 958 luminary bags in remembrance or in honor of loved ones with cancer.
Temperatures in the 90s with a heat advisory might have kept the Relay’s attendance lower than usual. An estimated 200 people were in the audience to watch the activities.