Racers take on "Elf Run" to benefit childhood cancer research

WAUKESHA -- More than a thousand people pounded the pavement near the Waukesha County Expo Center on Sunday, November 25th -- braving the cold for the Elf Run to benefit childhood cancer research.  

It was a special race for second place finisher Matthew Kruger. 

"Me being a childhood cancer survivor myself, it’s important," Kruger said.

The elite runner fought non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  He's now seven years in remission, and said he hopes his success inspires others.

"My faith in God is really what carried me through my cancer. I think positive, saying that the 50 bucks I put into the race is going to help other people," Kruger said.

There was similar determination in those who helped organize the run.

"For me, this is my way to give back to the community -- to give back to the cancer people and to raise money to try and help end childhood cancer," volunteer coordinator Nikki Lieblang said.

Lieblang lost her daughter to brain cancer two-and-a-half years ago.

"Basically everything I do now in life is for her, to keep her memory alive," Lieblang said.

The event raised close to $5,000.