Members of Austin High School’s Youth Leadership Club made strides for the third straight year in the fight against breast cancer.

Madison Wuertz and Sam Ogilvie, both student members of the Youth Leadership Club, joined club advisor Emily Hovland in presenting a check for $2,500 raised from the third annual “Strides for a Cure” 5K walk/run event in May. The funds support The Hormel Institute’s breast cancer research. Dr. Edward “Ted” Hinchcliffe, leader of the cellular dynamics research section, accepted the donation.

The Youth Leadership Club offers “Strides for a Cure” to men and women of all ages every May.

“This was a record-breaking year, with over 120 participants,” Wuertz said. “We would like to thank the community for giving to this cause.” Wuertz added Youth Leadership Club looks forward to having another successful “Strides for a Cure” race in 2014.

In 2012, the AHS Youth Leadership Club was honored with the Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy award by the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Southern Minnesota Chapter.

“We are deeply grateful for the hard work and generosity of the Youth Leadership Club’s members and all of the ‘Strides for a Cure’ participants,” Executive Director Dr. Zigang Dong said. “Our community certainly understands that research is the only answer to cancer, and they are helping us accelerate discoveries.”