More than 30 fund-raising teams from Carson City businesses, schools and community organizations combined to almost double last year's take of donations to help fight cancer at the American Cancer Society's annual Relay for Life event.
More Carson City residents than ever participated in the overnight event three weeks ago, bringing in about $50,000 total, said ACS Community Relationship Manager Nisha Verma.
The Greater Nevada Credit Union alone raised $12,000, or nearly a quarter of all donations, she said.
Last year, local Relay for Life volunteers brought in about $28,000.
Every year in cities all over the nation, the cancer society with the help of sponsors hosts the Relay for Life fund-raisers in which businesses, community groups, organizations or just friends create money-raising "teams" that try to garner donations and pledges in the days leading up to an overnight walk-a-thon.
Carson City's event has been around for more than 10 years. Dayton holds a separate relay, which is for the night of Aug. 12 and 13.
Throughout the walk, which this year was held on July 8 and 9 at Carson High School's track, each team is supposed to keep at least one member walking at all times through the two-day period.
The cancer society puts the money raised to work in four general sectors including cancer research, services for patients, education about cancer prevention and lobbying Congress for patients rights and more research.
In 2004, more than 3 million people, including half a million cancer survivors participated in Relay for Life walks, raising $306 million at 4,100 sites throughout the United States and 16 other countries, according to Verma.
Anyone interested in participating in next year's relay should contact Verma at the ACS office in Reno by calling 828-2202.
Sponsors of the Carson City Relay for Life:
Tahoe Fracture and
Orthopedic Clinic
Radtke Tile and Marble
Carson Physical Therapy
Nevada Appeal
Rock It Productions
Greater Nevada Credit Union
Casino Fandango
AVS Integrated Technology
Eclipse Screens of Nevada
Costco Wholesale
Carson Surgical Group
Wells Fargo
Joseph and Mary Alotta
Reno Oncology
South Shore Fire Sprinkler
Carson Dermatology
Cost Cutters
Carson Nugget
Carlin Williams Architects
John Lang LaSalle
Carson High School
B'sghetti's
