WILLIAMSTOWN -Nearly $38,000 was raised to help combat cancer during the eighth annual Williamstown Relay for Life on Aug. 3, an official said.
The 19 teams and 272 participants in the overnight event raised $37,647 to aid the American Cancer Society's fight to eradicate cancer, according to the event's website at www.acs.org.
The goal for this year's event, which took place between 6 p.m. Aug. 3 and 6 a.m. Aug. 4, was $48,000, which is the total raised by the community during the 2011 relay.
"It's OK that we didn't reach the goal," said event co-chair Elaine Bender. "Every penny raised helps reach the goal of no more cancer."
While the main party was in Tomlinson Park on Aug. 3, members of the 19 teams had worked all year to raise the funds through smaller events.
Going into the overnight relay, the event had raised $24,000. The teams at the event raised the additional nearly $14,000 through fundraising at the park with the sale of food, participation in games and other smaller events.
The money collected during this event, and all Relay for Life events around the country, goes into ACS grand funding, which goes to cancer research, diagnosis and treatments around the country.
Along with the usual purse auction, corn hole tournament and food, there was a time for reflection after the sun went down with the luminaria service, which honors and remembers loved ones who have battled cancer.
This year more than 1,000 luminarias lined the walking path through the park, each with names and even photos of those who lost their battle with cancer and those who continue to fight.
The Williamstown Relay Wrap-up event will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the Williamstown Women's Club house. Everyone who participated in this year's relay is welcome to attend.
