The weather might have been on the chilly side, but that didn’t stop the more than 400 people from attending the 22nd annual Greene County Relay for Life.

Leadership Team Chair Tori Riley says they raised nearly $33,000 by the relay event. The total includes $16,421 from the 12 relay teams, which kicked off the event by walking around the indoor track of the Greene County Community Center.

The action then took place outside with the survivor walk, which was kicked off by members of the Greene County High School choir singing the National Anthem and the Jefferson VFW as the color guard. The 30 survivors and ten caregivers then made their walk to the start of the Heroes in Training run for those under the age of 12. The 5K run/walk then took place, followed by the afternoon entertainment. Eight-year-old Colin Russell finished third overall in the 5K and he told Raccoon Valley Radio that he was surprised that he finished as high as he did, since it was his first 5K he’s ever run. “No, I thought I was going to end up in like first to last.”

Riley said they added another new aspect with a 46-second drill.

“And the significance of 46-seconds is that every 46-seconds, in the United States, another person is diagnosed with having cancer. We had some young people running around with cups and money collecting spare change and dollar bills. They had 46-seconds for us all to see how much money they could collect for the (American) Cancer Society. And in our first-ever 46-second drill, we got $106.”

Other totals from the event included: $10,000 from cash sponsorships, proceeds from the community barbecue and luminaria sales, $329 from the 50/50 cash raffle, silent auction of $6,902 and $355 from the afternoon entertainment portion of the event.

Riley reminds everyone that donations will be accepted until August. Donations can be made to any of the relay teams or at Peoples Trust and Savings Bank in Jefferson. All proceeds will be given to the American Cancer Society.