Gwinnett Daily Post

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DULUTH — Thanks to a large donation, Gwinnett Relay for Life reclaimed its spot as the world’s top fundraiser in the battle against cancer — for now.

Wednesday marked the final day for 2011 fundraising and, thanks to an $88,000 donation from an anonymous “very special family,” Gwinnett leapfrogged Bakersfield, Calif., for the No. 1 spot.

As of Wednesday morning, Gwinnett’s total sat at $2,087,152.34. The efforts of Bakersfield — the top challenger to Gwinnett’s reign for several years now — came in at $2,084,639. The friendly battle, though, was not quite over.

Both Gwinnett and Bakersfield accepted online donations through Wednesday, and in-person donations can be accepted through Tuesday, Sept. 6. Checks must be dated prior to Sept. 1 to be credited toward the 2011 event.

The American Cancer Society’s Duluth office is located at 6500 Sugarloaf Parkway.

Held each May, Gwinnett’s Relay for Life has been the world’s top-grossing since 2002.