Organizers of the Community Cancer Walk had huge smiles on their faces as the fourth annual event wrapped up last Saturday.
According to the group, a record number of walkers attended the event which raises funds for free gas cards given to community members who travel out of town for cancer treatment.
“We had our best turnout in the four years,” said Julie Jaksa, one of the event’s many organizers.
Jaksa told The Journal she thinks the increased turnout can be attributed to awareness of the gas card program and the realization that money raised by the effort stays in Koochiching County to be used towards gas cards.
This year, 90 gas cards valued at $150 each have already been distributed, Jaksa said.
“Starting Nov. 1, begins a new year (for the gas card program) and people who have gotten gas cards in the past can get a new card then,” Jaksa added.
The gas card program runs through Oct. 31, 2013. Requests for gas cards should be made to the chemotherapy department at Rainy Lake Medical Center hospital campus through Betsy Loop.
Saturday’s walk brought in $11,900 towards the gas card program, Jaksa said. She also noted that money has been collected throughout the summer and has not been added to the total raised this year. Donations can also be made at any time through an account set up at Bremer Bank, Jaksa said.
“All people have to do is go to Bremer Bank and say they wish to make a deposit for the Community Cancer Walk,” she said.
Last year, community members raised $13,000 for gas cards.
Jaksa credited Wendy Mayer for developing the idea of the walk in 2009, and said that the many people involved in the event today “had no idea this would become such a success.”
She said seeing so many people and groups register for the cause is “very rewarding.”
“This year, we had the (Falls High School) volleyball team also get involved,” Jaksa said. “The reason they participated was because the community gives so much support to them, that they wanted to give something back. This was a great bonding experience for the girls.”
