NORWICH – The 14th Annual Chenango Relay For Life was an unprecedented success, according to event chair Marie DeSarro, who announced an preliminary total of $149,500 in donations for cancer research and prevention.

Approximately 180 cancer survivors joined hundreds of county residents, family members, friends and co-workers for the two day event at the Chenango County Fairgrounds.

Survivors also enjoyed a special Survivor Celebration Dinner thanks to the Fox Run Event Center and the Smyrna Market.

In addition, more than 100 people participated in the third American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Study, a historic investigation into the lifestyle, environmental and genetic factors which cause or prevent cancer, according to relayforlife.org.

“I’m extremely proud of the planning committee and all of the teams who participated,” said DeSarro, who added the committee had numerous details they successfully addressed based on participants’ suggestions from the previous year. “We took on a lot of new pieces to the event and everything was very successful. They did a great job in making sure that suggestions were followed through on.”