FORKS — The Forks Relay For Life made more than $23,000 over the goal during the 24-hour event earlier this month.
The goal was $32,000, and as of Thursday, the event held Aug. 3-4 at the Forks High School track had brought in more than $55,0000 in donations, all of which go to the American Cancer Society for cancer research, said Diane Edwards, publicity chairwoman.
Overall, volunteers collected about $29,000 for the 2011 relay.
A new team, the Quileute Tribe, was the top fundraising team this year, bringing in $10,455.
“Isn’t that amazing for a first-year team?” Edwards said.
The Puddle Jumpers, a team made up of teachers and other staff members of Forks Elementary School, brought in the second-highest amount of donations: $6,717.
“This was the 10th anniversary for the Forks Relay For Life event, and the Puddle Jumper team is the only team that is still active since the first relay in Forks,” said Edwards, who was captain of the team.
The Forks Outfitters team raised $4,787, according to the Forks Relay For Life website, http://tinyurl.com/ctmdlrl.
The top individual fundraiser was relay Chairwoman Cindy Mesenbrink, who brought in $2,015 in donations.
Edwards individually raised $1,019.
Both Mesenbrink and Edwards are cancer survivors, she explained.
“We sent out letters to our friends and family, and they responded,” Edwards said.
Joe Korst was the third-highest fundraiser as an individual, according to the Forks Relay For Life website.
There were 17 teams with 133 registered participants, not including visiting walkers/survivors, Edwards said.
The Sequim Relay For Life was Aug. 10-11, the Port Townsend event was July 27-28, and the Port Angeles event was July 8-9.