(KNZA)--Brown County's Relay for Life has come and gone for another year; and, with memories made during the annual ceremony recognizing cancer survivors while memorializing those who lost the battle, the figures are now totaled from Friday night's American Cancer Society fundraiser. “Financially, over $40,000 was brought in,” longtime Relay for Life volunteer Laura Brobst  tells MSC News. “That was the result of 24 teams, sponsors, volunteers and participants working together to raise it. These dollars help fund research, education, advocacy and service programs by the American Cancer Society.”

Brobst says this year's event featured a strong youth presence. “The Relay really does lend itself to a lot of youth involvement. We have Boy Scout Troop 313 which helps us with setting the luminaries around the track and presenting the Color Guard. This year during the opening ceremony, 10-year-old Bailey Pierce sang the National Anthem.”

The 2014 Relay, held under the theme “Relay For A New Day...A New Beginning,” was scaled back from years past. Instead of lasting all night at the Hiawatha High School Track, the condensed event ran from just after 6:00 Friday evening until just after midnight Saturday. “Organizers were very careful. We didn't want to diminish any of the sentiment behind the original overnight timeline, but felt it was time to reevaluate because the overnight participation had remained low. This years event featured a six-hour event that was very well received.”  

Brobst says the while the Relay for Life is a fundraising effort, it's also intended to unite the community in solidarity in the fight against cancer. 

Planning for next year is already set to get underway, with Brobst inviting anyone interested in helping to make that possible to sign on as a volunteer for 2015.