Photo by Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com - Tim Ruzek of the Hormel Institute accepts a check for $2,500 from AHS students Jaclyn Bird, from left, Haley Underwood, Olivia Grev, and Nathan Schwab. The money was raised from the Strides for a Cure Race.

The Youth Leadership Club had a good year.

The Austin High School Group raised more than $1,600 for the United Way of Mower County’s preschool program and $2,500 for the Hormel Institute’s breast cancer research fund.

“This is an amazing amount of money they raised,” said Tim Ruzek, communications officer for the Hormel Institute.

Students raised about $2,500 through the first annual Strides for a Cure 5K Walk/Run, something the students decided upon after hearing how they’d all known someone who’d dealt with breast cancer. Although they were hoping to raise more than $2,000, they didn’t expect to get that much.

“We definitely want to make it bigger next year,” said Hailey Underwood, AHS Junior.

In addition, students raised a record amount for the Mr. Austin pageant, an annual event which is usually well attended. Students usually pick a new charity every year to donate the money, and they wanted to give back to education this year.

“We wanted to keep it local,” said Ashley Arhart, AHS senior and co-president of Youth Leadership Club. “It seemed most people in the community probably don’t realize how important pre-school is.”