Relay teams raise $545,000.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Saturday's Relay for Life raised $545,000 for the American Cancer Society, and organizers were optimistic the charity would reach its goal of $600,000 in the next month.

This year's relay took place at the Lane Community College track, with 178 teams participating in the overnight event. The relay celebrates cancer survivors while remembering people who have lost their lives to the disease. The money raised goes toward cancer treatment and research, as well as advocacy for federal funding, prevention and education programs and support services for patients and their families.

Additional team fundraisers are planned for the coming weeks.