Relay For Life of Wilson County surpassed its 2012 goal by raising more than $100,000 for the American Cancer Society, officials announced recently. 

“Because of great participation and some outstanding contributions, we came very close to reaching our goal on the night of Relay For Life, which is remarkable,” Committee Chairperson Tina Winfree said. “On behalf of the entire Relay For Life committee, we want to say a big thank you to our event sponsors, auction item sponsors, teams, volunteers, event guests and, of course, everyone who donated. It’s been thrilling to work with so many neighbors who were eager to be part of the fight against cancer this year.”

This year’s fundraising total for Relay For Life of Wilson County recently surpassed $106,600, resulting in a net contribution of more than $103,000 that ACS will use to fight the disease, search for a cure and help local cancer patients. The overnight Relay For Life event took place Friday, June 22, at the track on Castle Heights Avenue behind the Main Office of Wilson Bank & Trust in Lebanon. The 2012 fundraising campaign for teams kicked off in February.

Besides assisting Wilson County cancer patients with services like free stays at the Hope Lodge during treatments, networking opportunities with other survivors and many forms of informational support, the American Cancer Society has funded more than $7 million in cancer research here in Middle Tennessee in the past year. That research has been performed primarily at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, a facility that Wilson County residents with cancer often visit during the course of diagnosis or treatments.

Since its local inception in 1996, Relay For Life of Wilson County has raised about $1.7 million for the American Cancer Society. The world’s largest grassroots fundraising movement, Relay For Life helps support the American Cancer Society’s mission to save lives by helping people stay well, by helping people get well, by finding cures and by fighting back.