Charles Warner|Daily Times Team Leroy treasurer Pam Alexander tallies up the funds the Relay For Life team has collected since it began its fund raising efforts earlier this year. The team, which met Tuesday evening at Tubozzz, had set $10,000 as its fund raising goal. As of Tuesday evening the team had raised $13,535.62.

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Team Leroy Relay For Life team member Sherry Jackson holds one of the t-shirts that team members will be wearing during Friday's Relay For Life event at the Union County Fairgrounds. The team will also have some of the t-shirts for sale at $10 each.

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UNION — They had hoped to raise $10,000 for the fight against cancer, but as of Tuesday evening the Team Leroy Relay For Life team had raised more than $13,500.

Team Leroy is named for Leroy “Little Man” Belue, special projects manager for the Union Housing Authority, who died from cancer on Jan. 13, 2013. The team, which includes Belue’s widow, Beth, has been working to raise $10,000 for Relay For Life through a series of fund raising activities which will continue after the annual Union County Relay For Life event this Friday. The team’s fund raising activities to date include a bake sale in March that raised $1,500; a yard sale at the Union County Stadium in April that raised $800 as well as another $150 raised from the sale of raffle tickets; and $110 raised through Pizza Hut.

The team met Tuesday evening at Tubozzz restaurant so that these and other funds raised could be tallied. After the team’s treasurer had completed the tally, Beth Belue announced that the team had raised $13,535.62.

“I am just speechless,” she said. “This is an awesome team. Words can’t express my appreciation of the team and everyone that has contributed. It means the world to know everybody thought so much of my husband.”

Even though it has surpassed its goal, the team’s fund raising efforts are continuing and will continue beyond Friday’s Relay For Life event at the Union County Fairgrounds. The team’s next fundraiser will be the Little Man’s Cha-Ching 5K run/walk at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 18 at Foster Park. Individuals and groups (10 or more) must pay a registration fee of $30 and $25, respectively. (Groups must turn in registration forms all together with one check). Packet pickup and late registration will begin at 6 a.m. on the day of the walk/run.

Overall awards will be given to the top two male and top two female finishers. Awards will also be given to the top three males and top three females in each age division — 10 and under, 11-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 50-59, 60-69, 70 and over.

Checks may be made and mailed to Beth Belue, 1017 Kelly Road, Union, S.C., 29379 with Cha-Ching 5k on the memo line.

Team Leroy is one of 26 teams participating in Relay For Life which was first held in Union County in 1996. Since then, Relay For Life in Union County has raised $1.7 million for the fight against cancer. The goal for this year’s Relay For Life is $100,000.

Editor Charles Warner can be reached at 864-427-1234, ext. 14, or by email at cwarner@civitasmedia.com.