Twenty-one teams participated in annual OTC event

When the Otter Tail County Relay For Life Leadership Team met in February 2024, they set their goals for the year. The goals included the number of teams, number of survivors, attendance size at the Relay for Life and a very ambitious fundraising goal of $185,000.  This felt a bit scary to everyone on the team, but some of the bigger risk-takers in the group were sure they could raise a sum of this size.  It turns out they were right.

September 1 marks the closing of the Relay for Life’s 2024 website page and the process of activating the 2025 website. It is at this point that the Relay’s final total is confirmed. 

The Relay For Life Leadership Team has announced that their year-end total has surpassed the fundraising goal of $185,000 by over $15,000. The 2024 year-end total was $200,200.

A total of this size is only possible through the efforts and generosity of many, many people in this area.  Businesses and organizations have been faithful supporters, as have been individuals whose lives have been impacted by cancer. Many people have supported the fundraising efforts of various teams throughout the year, as well. 

Most of all, the Relay for Life teams have put forth incredible effort and energy to raise money for the American Cancer Society’s purposes of research, education, advocacy, and patient services.  Their efforts deserve recognition and appreciation.  

While all 21 of the Otter Tail County Relay for Life teams did an amazing job, the top five fundraising teams need to be singled out and congratulated.  Congratulations and thank you to these five teams and their captains: Mills Dream Team, captained by Jan Parta and KayAnn Kahilainen, which raised over $29,000; Vergas Looneys, captained by Bev Flateland, raising over $25,000; Got Hope, captained by Jodi Guck and Janice Matti, raising over $19,000; Jennie-O-Turkeys of Pelican Rapids, captained by Lori Lofgren, which raised over $18,000; and St. Lawrence Saints, captained by Ruth Wegscheid, which raised over $15,600. Several other teams raised over $8,000 each, including the Arvig team, which raised just short of $10,000.