With Suffolk’s Relay for Life around the corner, teams and individuals are racing to reach their goals. Cheryl Stephenson and her team, the Wise Cracks, are making their goals even bigger.

Currently, Stephenson is the leader for individuals fundraising with $1,015 raised, and her team is the third highest team with $3,001 raised.

“A lot of my money came from companies I work with, friends, family and my landlord,” Stephenson said. “My landlord was my biggest contributor. He gave me over half my money raised.”

Her original goal was only $1,000, but she has decided to bump up that goal by $300 before the Relay. The Wise Cracks officially surpassed their $3,000 fundraising goal on Tuesday with $3,001. The team plans to raise its goal by $500, since it has a few fundraising events left before the big event.

“We are a really competitive team,” Stephenson said.

They have a fundraiser planned for this Sunday, and those who already signed up will have the chance to paint and enjoy food and drink. They will also be holding a raffle with donated items from friends that distribute Lularoe and Mary Kay.

Raising money for Relay for Life is special to Stephenson as a survivor. She was diagnosed in December 2016 with colon cancer, and last year she was “deemed somewhat cancer free.”

“I was diagnosed with cancer, and I had the best support from the doctors and the cancer society,” Stephenson said. “Seeing people give back motivated me.”

While Stephenson was at Riverside for a chemotherapy appointment she saw a bake sale benefiting Relay, and she began checking out the cause.

Everyone on the team has sent out letters merely asking for donations, and that activity has brought in plenty of money for all nine team members.

“There’s a lot of excitement hitting your goals, and it’s great seeing how easily people will donate if you just ask,” Stephenson said. “It’s just a matter of being asked.”

The team members — Cheryl Stephenson, Christie Worrell, Cathy Larkin, Sherri Stephenson, Eva Marshall, Cynthia Waddington, Brandon Waddington, Michael Hamilton and Aubrey Grace Stephenson — have been selling raffle tickets for a cancer awareness afghan. The afghan will feature words like “courage,” “hope” and “family.” A winner will be drawn at Relay.

The team will also have a Lucky Duck fundraiser. The bottoms of ducks will have colors that coordinate to special prizes.

Suffolk’s Relay for Life has raised $43,421 of its $150,000 goal with more than two weeks to go. Suffolk’s Relay will be at 6 p.m. May 18 at Nansemond River High School.