PHOTOS: Utica Sweats Pink to Raise Money in Honor of Alumna Breast Cancer Survivor

students raised more than $3,000 in the first 20-minutes of third-hour Thursday for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

The money will be donated in honor of , a 2010 UHS graduate who was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer. 

Forand, who helped organized the school's first ever Amazing Race for the Cure several years ago, was on hand to encourage the students.

"The energy in the school is incomparable," she told Patch.

About 60 classes participated in the Amazing Race.

Here's how it worked: Each classroom choose a runner, male of female, who dressed in pink, to scurry the classes cash donations down to the library, where student council members and other student volunteer groups stood by to count the cash.

Runners worked up a sweat dashing through the halls as they were only allowed to shuffle $20 at a time.

The class that collected the most money will be awarded with an off campus lunch the day before Thanksgiving at Da Francesco's Ristorante.

Two students, Junior Josh Pannebecker and Sophomore DJ Labash, who sported tutus and pink bras, won awards for best costume.

Forand said it was fun to be back to school and watch the kids have fun while raising money for a good cause.

"It was a really cool feeling seeing everyone doing so much work and donate it in my name. Utica has always felt like family... and the fact that they all pulled together for me—it's a great support system," she said.