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Relay for Life raises record $54,000 and counting

April 15, 2007

KALAMAZOO--The sixth annual Relay for Life of Western Michigan University raised $54,000 for the American Cancer Society by the close of the April 13-14 event, and contributions made before the end of August will be added to the total.

The $54,000 raised is a record for the WMU Relay for Life, which also set records with 60 registered teams and 672 volunteer fund raisers. One year ago, the relay raised $44,700 by the end of the event and took in several thousand dollars more afterward as late contributions were added. This year's relay had raised more than $40,000 before the event began.

"The students did a tremendous job. They deserve all the credit," says Tricia Saucier, community representative for the American Cancer Society in Kalamazoo County. The relay is organized by WMU Colleges Against Cancer, a student organization. Saucier gave special credit to Katie Gaskey, who chaired this year's relay. "Katie was absolutely awesome." Gaskey, from Tinley Park, Ill., is a sophomore majoring in secondary education, history and Spanish.

More than 600 volunteers, mostly WMU students, participated in the 24-hour walk-a-thon, which was moved indoors because of inclement weather from its traditional location at Kanley Track to the Student Recreation Center. Participants also included WMU staff and alumni and members of the area community.

Top fund-raising teams were Colleges Against Cancer, with $5,700 raised, and Bronco Marching Band, with $3,400 in contributions. Eleven additional teams raised more than $1,000 each. Top individual fund raisers included students Lindsay Ehrlich, Kirsten Boyce and Annie Crawford.

Contributions to the American Cancer Society can be made online through the Relay for Life of WMU or checks payable to American Cancer Society may be mailed to Relay for Life of WMU, American Cancer Society, 5110 S. Sprinkle Rd., Portage MI 49002-2050.

For more information, write to WMU Colleges Against Cancer at cac_wmu@yahoo.com.

Media contact: Thom Myers, (269) 387-8400, thom.myers@wmich.edu

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