ORANGE — The 12th annual Mahar Cancer Walk on Saturday generated $5,004.45, the third-highest amount the event has ever raised to help local families defray the cost of traveling to cancer treatment centers.
Proceeds from this event are kept in the community and are used to purchase gift cards that can be redeemed for gas or groceries.
Following the Survivor Lap, a short ceremony was held to express gratitude to Sandi Eklund for her many years of work and dedication to the Mahar Cancer Walk Committee. One of the original coordinators of the walk, Eklund plans to step down from her many duties, effective this year.
The silent auction and the raffles garnered more than $400 and baked goods donated by staff members helped raise more than $100.
The Athol Hospital donated several cases of water so each participant would be hydrated while walking the track. Several trophies, donated by Ames Trophy of Orange and created in the familiar twisted ribbon shape by Ingrid Whitten, were presented as door prizes to some of the cancer survivors who participated in the lap. Other participants received small potted plants.
Donations to the Mahar Cancer Walk Committee can be made to the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School, P.O. Box 680, Orange, MA 01364-0680.