Cancer fight gets big boost in Northwest suburbs

Relay For Life events that began Friday night at three Northwest suburban high schools raised more than $250,000 to aid the fight against cancer.

The events from 6 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday were at Barrington High School, Elk Grove High School and Hersey High School.

Three days before the Barrington event, $182,280 had been committed by 765 participants on 92 teams. The Duchossois Family Foundation offered a $100,000 matching challenge.

The event also featured the Pink Heals of Northern Illinois pink fire engine, WGN and Fox TV news personalities, and an attempt to set the world’s record with the most birthday cakes at one event.

At Hersey, a week before the event, the totals were 204 participants registered for 26 teams and $52,667 committed. The theme was Arlington Heights’ Biggest Birthday Party.

At Elk Grove, as of three days before the event, the totals were 406 participants registered on 54 teams with $30,889 committed.

While the main objective of Relay For Life is to raise money for cancer research and cancer patients, the event helps spread cancer awareness, celebrate the lives of survivors, remember those who lost their lives to cancer and unite a community in the fight against cancer.

The money goes to help people with any type of cancer, funding wigs, rides to treatments, 24/7 information by phone, research and other services.