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Yellowknife raised $143,680 for Run For Our Lives. From left, Patty Olexin-Lang, Brooke Harris, Megan Jones, Ally McInnes, Jill Alain, Mia McInnes and Harley Lang are holding the numbers. - photo courtesy of Run For Our Lives committee

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Run for Our Lives was another huge success this year in Yellowknife as participants raised $143,680.

The total for the NWT will be tallied after the other participating communities complete their runs. Two more events will be run next weekend.

Last year's NWT-wide total was $185,211.

"We didn't stipulate that they had to have their run on the same day that we had ours," said Cheryl Robinson, communications director with Run For Our Lives. "You never know what's going on in every community. They might have something else already planned."

There were prizes for the highest fundraising corporate team, youth team and individual youth.

BHP Billiton employees won the corporate challenge by raising $25,819.55. The company matched that number, bringing the total to $51,639.10.

Harley Lang was the highest youth fundraiser again this year with a total of $6,218.50. This is the fourth year the Grade 8 student from William McDonald school has won.

"He is such a generous young man," said Robinson. "The prize was an iPod touch. Harley switched prizes with the second place winner."

Lang got a $200 gift certificate from Overlander Sports which he said he will use towards a new bicycle. He said he is not motivated by the prizes that he wins; he raises money because breast cancer affected his family.

"My auntie had breast cancer," said Lang.

William McDonald school came in first place for the school challenge with a total of $12,785.99. Brad Rogers was the highest individual fundraiser with $11,537.90.

"When Brad won he won the ticket from Canadian North to anywhere that they fly," said Robinson. "He actually traded it with the second prize winner for a racket club membership. There were a lot of people being generous."

The second prize winner donated the Canadian North ticket back to the run.

"It was quite obvious that everyone wasn't just there that day to get a prize," said Robinson. "They were there for a reason and for the cause."

Funds raised by Run For Our Lives go toward fighting breast cancer in the North.