Wasilla Carrs/Safeway raises $15,000 for breast cancer awareness

The Wasilla Safeway/CARRS store made a commitment to raising money for breast cancer awareness during October, and the final tally shows employees more than reached their goal.

The store finished number one in both districts in Alaska and third overall in the division.

The final tally raised for breast cancer awareness and research was $15,264, organizers said.

"That's awesome for the small town that we are," Penny Ressler, who organized the event, said.

Because the store raised so much money, two employees "went pink" for a day in November. Brett Cooper and Phyllis Clark wore nothing but pink to work in mid-November, from shirts to their nails and hair. Sheer Elegance helped dye the employees' hair bright pink for the day.

The event, held every October, has gotten bigger and bigger. This year, every corner of the store was covered with pink tags, which people purchased at the checkout stands during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

A special survivor's wall included pink handprints of those battling breast cancer, as well as survivors.