More than 49 teams, 420 participants and dozens of volunteers took to University Park in Grand Forks Friday night and Saturday morning for the 14th annual Relay for Life.
The event began at 6 p.m. and ended this morning at 6:30. Co-chairwoman Nancy Klatt said the numbers -- both attendance and fundraising -- were "wonderful."
"There's something about cancer that really touches people," she said. "It scares people, but I think they rally around it to support their family and friends."
As of Friday night, the event had raised $143,302, according to the relay website.
Traci Plante of East Grand Forks led team "Lee Kofstad, Stick it to Cancer" for the second consecutive year. Plante said Kofstad, who passed away last July to pancreatic cancer, was very instrumental in the youth hockey program in East Grand Forks.
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Plante, with Kofstad's wife Xan, incorporate hockey sticks into their fundraising. Begin-ning today and running through June 18, the team will put hockey sticks in yards. Homeown-ers have to donate money towards the team to get the sticks out.
Plante said the team raised more than $2,000 last year.
"We do this to show support for Lee and his family, and raise awareness and money to find a cure for cancer," she said. "There's such a big turnout this year, it speaks highly of the community."
Klatt said what impresses her most of the event is how many are always remembered.
"You see these names and it always impresses me some of these people have been gone for a long time and yet the fact their name still shows up on a bag they are never forgotten," she said. "Somebody thought enough to put their name on a bag and that is amazing."
Reach Jerke at (701) 787-6736; (800) 477-6572, ext. 6736; or send email to tjerke@gfherald.com .
