A team of 165 employees, family members and friends climbed seven miles up Snowbowl Road in Flagstaff last month to raise money for the Climb to Conquer Cancer, UniSource Energy Services’ largest annual volunteer event.

UES ranked as the second-best team in fundraising, bringing in more than $5,800 for the American Cancer Society event on Aug. 20 at the Arizona Snowbowl. The company contributed $5,000 to sponsor the team. Some team participants also donated their own money.

“So many people are touched by cancer. We get people from almost every UES office to contribute to this important cause for our community,” said Heidi Poturalski, UES Manager of Employee and Labor Relations.  Poturalski served as captain of the UES team, compiling registration materials and providing wristbands and event shirts with the UES logo.

This year’s team included UES employees from Lake Havasu City, Nogales, Kingman, Prescott, Cottonwood and Flagstaff as well as employees from sister company Tucson Electric Power.

The event has particular significance for UES employees in Flagstaff who lost co-workers to cancer. Jeremy Sandall worked as a Service Technician before succumbing to the disease at age 32 in 2012. Sandall’s widow, UES Administrative Assistant Ronnie Sandall, gathers family members and friends to walk each year in honor of him.

Event participants walk to the ski resort, finding activities, water stops and entertainment along the way. Breakfast awaited them at the end of the walk, along with a cupcake tent for cancer survivors.

The American Cancer Center raised $232,000 at the sold-out event, which drew a total of more than 3,800 participants.

“It’s one of those annual events that lots and lots of people attend,” Poturalski said. “It’s important for UES to be part of this.”