FITCHBURG — Workers Credit Union is the top fundraising team in this year’s Greater Gardner Relay For Life.

Workers Credit Union’s Relay Team raised $42,434 for the Relay event which funds cancer research along with things like free rides to chemotherapy, nights at area hotels near treatment hospitals and a 24/7 helpline for answers and support. This year’s amount is $16,000 more than the team’s original goal of $26,000.

Greater Gardner Relay For Life was held in June at Mount Wachusett Community College. The 24-hour walk is dedicated to funding cancer research and is one of the largest relay events in the country. The Workers Team comprised 44 employees and their family members, several of whom are cancer survivors. Fundraising for the teams concluded Aug. 21.

Since 2005, Workers Credit Union has sponsored the event and its team has raised more than a combined $307,000. Workers Credit Union provided a donation of $10,000 to start this year’s fundraising. Workers Credit Union employees Rosa River and Jaclyn Hayes co-chaired the Workers Credit Union Relay team.

“We are so humbled by the support from our employees, members and Relay team,” said Rivera, a Senior Mortgage Originator at Workers. “This is a cause that is so special to our entire team – cancer has touched the lives of many of us and we work tirelessly each year on this fundraiser. We especially want to thank our members for coming out to events like our Dining for a Cause. We couldn’t have raised so much without their support.”

Relay For Life is the signature fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Relay is staffed and coordinated by volunteers in thousands of communities and 27 countries. Volunteers give their time and effort because they believe it’s time to take action against cancer.