It took the work of 21 teams, but members of the Minot Relay For Life group managed to raise almost $100,000 for 2011.
At a 2012 kickoff meeting held Thursday evening, co-organizer Merry Plante announced that more than $99,000 was raised to help fund cancer research, as well as helping those directly who are fighting cancer.
Teams like "Hopelessly Devoted To Sandy," which raised $7,607, and a team of Walmart employees who raised $7,583.02, or individuals like Michelle Betz, who solely raised $1,025, made it possible to achieve such a high level of fundraising.
"We did really good, considering," Plante said.
The year 2011 for the local Relay For Life teams was turbulent. All was going according to plan until the summer when threats were made that the Souris River would flood. And then it did. At first, the event was postponed due to the evacuation. Then, it was altogether canceled, as the event was scheduled to be held at Minot State University, but it was located near a secondary dike.
"We just didn't feel it would be appropriate to have Relay at this time," co-organizer Kim Whitish said in the July 7 issue of The Minot Daily News. "There's more pressing issues at hand."
At that time, Whitish had alluded to a "mini-relay" planned for the following September or October. It was then held Oct. 14 at Minot High School-Central Campus.
This year's Relay For Life will be held at Minot State University on June 8, starting at 7 p.m. A banquet for cancer survivors is also scheduled for June 6, at the Grand International Inn, said Katie Swanson, the survivors chair for the committee. To register for the survivors banquet, participants are asked to e-mail minotsurvivors@yahoo.com.
So far this year, $20,570 has been raised. According to Laurie Odden, with the American Cancer Society, about $6,000 of that was raised from a marathon held in Mohall. The Minotauros hockey team held a silent auction and raised more than $5,000. Plus, there was the proceeds raised from the mini-relay.
"People have been working hard already," Odden said. "Keep it up."
According to Plante, the goal is to have 65 teams participating in the 2012 Relay For Life in Minot; currently, there are 27. Between now and the Minot Relay's February meeting, team registration is $75. After the February meeting, it will be $150, Whitish said. Those who wish to register can e-mail minotrelay@yahoo.com or online at (www.minotrelay.com).
"$175,000 that's how much we want to see," Kim Hunt, a committee member, challenged the group Thursday.
She noted that Whitish's expectations have set a goal of $200,000.