Area relays bring in $810,000

BOARDMAN -- The American Cancer Society's Relay for Life events in Boardman and Warren drew a total of between 12,000 and 15,000 participants and raised about $810,000.
Al Stabilito, public relations director of the Eastern Ohio American Cancer Society, said Saturday that the Boardman event, held this weekend at Spartan Stadium, raised about $300,000. The goal was $353,000
The Warren event, held in Courthouse Square downtown, raised about $510,000. The goal for that event was $551,000.
But Stabilito said the amounts could grow as more donations come in. The agency won't know how the local relays compared with others throughout the state until the end of the fiscal year, Aug. 31, he said.
Stabilito estimated that between 12,000 and 15,000 people participated in the two events.
In 2005, the Warren and Boardman relays ranked first and second, respectively, in Ohio and 18th and 74th in the country because of the amounts raised.
Mahoning and Trumbull counties also earned the Pack the Track Award last year for the number of cancer survivors who participated.
The next Mahoning Valley Relay for Life event is set for 6 p.m. Friday to 6 p.m. Saturday at Liberty High School's Leopard Stadium.