The setting was the team wrap-up meeting for the 17th-annual Relay for Life of Barton County Monday night at the Great Bend Front Door facility. The announcement was a welcome one.
Volunteers for the 2011 Relay learned they met their goal of $125,000, and then some.
The event had raised the $125,000 by the end of the 12-hour event June 11, but that didn’t take expenses into consideration. It takes about $5,000 to put on a Relay for Life, so the actual target is higher.
“We met our goal,” said event Chairperson Linn Hogg. As of Tuesday afternoon, the Relay had brought in a shade over $130,000.
Even though expenses were a little higher than anticipated this year, Hogg said they are in good shape. There are still some costs coming in, but so is the money. They have until Aug. 15 to turn in donations to be counted.
“Our teams are long-standing teams that understand the importance of  Relay and are dedicated to the cause,” Hogg said. “They work hard at raising money all year long.”
There were 24 teams taking part this year.
 The top three money-raising teams were CPI Qualified Plan Consultants with $26,023, the Barton County All Nighters with $15,524 and Benefit Management Incorporated with $10,128.
The top individuals were Clarissa McCormick with $3,045 and Marilyn Burton with $2,585, both from All Nighters, and Hogg with $2,019, from the Great Bend Tribune team.
  The 2012 Barton County Relay is tentatively set for June 8-9. The chairperson will be Shannon Wittig and the co-chair will be Sheri Elsen.
Dating back to 1985, Relays for Life are the American Cancer Society’s single largest fund-raising activity.  Started in the United States, it has become an international effort.
For more info on this year’s Relay or to contribute, contact Hogg at 620-617-3640 or Team Development Chairperson Kandi Wolf at 620-797-5651.