McLean County Relay raises $273,000 in return to 24-hour format

Posted on June 26, 2017

By WJBC Staff

NORMAL – After returning to a 24-hour event, McLean County Relay for Life, came up short of its $300,000 goal, but hopes to reach that benchmark by the end of August.

The relay at Normal Community High School brought in $273,000 for cancer research and programs. Last year’s relay ended up raising $298,000.

“We had a wide range of activities during this year’s event which brought out many folks who had never been to our Relay before, and that helped raise interest,” explained Catina Struble, Event Lead for Relay For Life of McLean County. “Just as important, these newcomers – as well as those who have known of and participated in our event before – helped increase awareness that the fight against cancer continues.”

Relay officials say this year’s total includes nearly $28,000 raised during the annual 12-hour Teen Relay For Life event held at Tri-Valley High School in Downs on May 5-6.

“We are the number two Relay in the State of Illinois and it’s the people who volunteer to help put this event on and their commitment and continual fundraising efforts that created that position,” explained Kimberly Wright, Community Manager for American Cancer Society’s Peoria Office. “Without that kind of dedication in McLean County, this kind of fundraising total wouldn’t be possible.”

Since it began in McLean County in 1994, Relay For Life has raised $7.6 million to fight cancer.

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