It was another remarkable year for area Relay For Life committees. The American Cancer Society has released their final numbers for the 2013 fundraising year. The per capita amount is based on money raised and the population of a county. In the state of Iowa, the per capita is around $2 and the national average is $1.25. Cass County raised $76,313 and had a per capita of $5.55.

The Shelby County Relay for Life raised a new record of just over $130,520. The county had a per capita of $10.92. Carroll County raised just under $260,730, with a per capita of $12.61. Crawford County raised nearly $100,396, with $6.12 per capita. The figures from Audubon County were not given.

In addition to the County totals, team totals were also announced. Shelby County had 8 teams raise over $5,000.  Crawford County had 4 teams raise over $5,000, Carroll County 11 and Cass with one.

The American Cancer Society reports with the money raised from Relay For Life events in the Country, 16,500 cancer survivors were given rides to treatment last year, 1 million people were assisted by their free 800 number and 89,000 people were helped by ACS patient navigators on understanding their diagnosis and find the help the patient needed.

Since 1946, the ACS has invested more than $3.9 billion in cancer research that has helped many breakthroughs including establishing a link between obesity and multiple cancers and different treatments. Every year, more than 4 million people come together at Relay for Life events around the world to support the American Cancer Society and help finish the fight against cancer.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)