With the Relay For Life Grays Harbor event in the books for 2019, its top organizer reports that the event went smoothly and raised a significant amount of money to support cancer research.

Between the fundraising events, booths and raffles on Friday and Saturday, the Relay raised $42,341.62, according to Nicole Martin, the event’s new volunteer chairwoman this year. Combined with $73,000 that teams raised before Friday leading up to the relay, the event has totaled $115,341.62 throughout this year’s fundraising.

Hundreds of cancer survivors, their family and friends came out for the 33rd annual event Friday and Saturday at Hoquiam High School’s athletic track. The event raises money for cancer research and honors both survivors of cancer and those lost to it. From 6 p.m. Friday through Saturday afternoon, teams would have members walk around the track at Hoquiam High School, some through the entire night, as a way to honor those affected by cancer.

This year’s event appeared to have a smaller turnout than last year’s, and Martin said it seemed smaller to her, which she said was a little disappointing. Several of the teams at the relay said it feels like the event has gotten smaller every year, and weren’t sure why.

But Martin said there was a “phenomenal” turnout for the Survivors Lap, in which cancer survivors are given the track to walk around the first lap by themselves. She said 172 cancer survivors registered, and with others it came out to upward of 200 cancer survivors who took the first lap around.