Greater Richland Area Cancer Elimination, Inc., (GRACE) had a record-setting fundraising total of $375,047.66 for 2023, celebrating its 20th year in the community.

The total shatters the former record which was just above $290,000, Allen Kaszubski of the GRACE Board of Directors, said.

"It's pretty amazing," Kaszubski said. "The generosity of everyone in our service area really shines through."

GRACE treasurer Marge Bisco said the Board of Directors thought everything about the special 20th year fundraising effort by the entire community "went very well."

"Our community is so supportive of us and of everything that the teams for GRACE are doing," Bisco said.

On Thursday, Oct. 19, from 5-7 p.m. at the Phoenix Center in Richland Center GRACE will have its annual meeting. Donations that night are planned to the UW Hospitals Carbone Center and Gundersen Health System for cancer research.

Also at the annual meeting the awards for the efforts of the teams will be bestowed by GRACE.

This year's GRACE program not only included the Walk With GRACE on Aug. 11, but there was a live auction and celebration to start GRACE week. There was a GRACE kick-off walk in May. And the GRACE ambassadors were a combination of all the past ambassadors -- which made for a special opening lap for the Walk With GRACE event.

Kaszubski said the October annual meeting is one way that GRACE shares all of its information with the community.

"Our goal is to be completely transparent to the public," Kaszubski said. "Our annual report will be available and anyone who wonders about the details that we have for GRACE can find them at this meeting."