Members of the team sold T-shirts with proceeds going to their 17th annual “Race to Erase Breast Cancer” efforts during the month of October, which is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. They also hosted the Firecracker 5K run in Webster City in July with proceeds benefiting the project, and also received the proceeds from an employee “jeans day” to go toward the cause.

“It is important to me and our program that we do more than just run,” said Dee Brown, director of track and field at Iowa Central. “Distance running and athletics in general is a magnificent platform for so many things. We emphasize academics, time management, sportsmanship, citizenship and especially service learning.”

The team presented a $3,000 check to representatives from Unity Point Health Fort Dodge on Feb. 19. Since 2007, the team has raised a total of $32,200 for the Norma Schmoker Cancer Center.

Proceeds from the fundraiser go to the Cancer Center Foundation, which assists patients being treated at the center with needs they may have and helps to fund preventative care events such as the head and neck cancer screening held each year in conjunction with Iowa Central.

“Every bit given has an impact that goes a long way,” said Stefanie Koenig, manager of Oncology and Infusion Services at Unity Point Fort Dodge. “It provides gas cards to help patients get to treatment, assists with expenses at home that a patient may have while off work for treatment, genetic counseling and preventive screenings, and help with treatment resources that maybe we have to send patients to another facility for. We always appreciate the support.”

“We are fortunate to be a part of a great community in Fort Dodge where so many people and organizations take care of each other,” Brown said. “I love that year after year we are able to continue selling T-shirts among other things to raise money for such a noble cause. Our students literally run with this idea and make the most of it.”