The Knoxville Cancer Relay (KCR) has officially reached their $50,000 fundraising goal after a donation from the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce.

The KCR set a fundraising goal in 2023 of $50,000 for the American Cancer Society, which all of their members considered to be extremely lofty, and the team wasn’t sure if they would be able to attain it. After their large statewide run in September and countless fundraisers they have held in the months following, the KCR entered the new year just over $1,000 shy of their goal. That mark was finally achieved Wednesday when the Chamber of Commerce presented a check to the team for $1,118. 

All of the team members of the KCR have been affected by cancer in one way or another and they stressed that they never wanted to stop pursuing the fundraising goal because of all of the people that helped them out or their family members in their own cancer battles. Knoxville Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Nathan Sage said after losing both of his parents to the disease, the cause really hits home for him. Sage says he wanted to be able to do something to give back and support KCR in reaching their goal. 

“For me it’s like everyone in this community has been touched, and so many people have been touched and this is their way of giving back. You never feel like it’s enough. I did something because I wanted to do it. It’s a way to honor the people who are fighting today and continue to fight.”

This was the tenth annual Knoxville Cancer Relay and it continues to be one of the largest cancer fundraisers in the state.