The Eagles Club is battling cancer in the best manner it knows how: fund raising.

The Albert Lea Eagles, along with branches throughout southern Minnesota, have raised a total of $702,000 so far in their January cancer research fund drive.

&uot;Basically we are always looking for things to do to raise money for cancer research,&uot; explained Ron Hagen, the co-chairman for the local telethon.

&uot;Every January we get hot and heavy for cancer fund raising.&uot;

The local group has had many fund-raising activities throughout January including auctions, telethons, breakfasts, lunches and dinners, tin can drives, and a local cable television live telethon.

The Albert Lea branch of the Eagles has raised $110,000 so far and still hasn’t added up their pledges made to Rochester’s Mayo clinic.

With the majority of their large fund-raiser events done, the group still hopes to add to their total.

&uot;We have beaten our total of $105,000 from last year,&uot; Hagen said. &uot;But we feel we can get a bigger amount.&uot;

The money raised goes to three different Minnesota cancer research centers: The Mayo Clinic, the Hormel Institute and the University of Minnesota.

Hagen says he has been active with the cancer fundraiser for many years and that the community has been very generous every year.

&uot;People in Freeborn County and the Albert Lea community just seem to step up each year we have this,&uot; he said.

Hagen said the issue at hand is important because it affects everybody.

&uot;It seems like everyone around you has had someone they know pass away from cancer,&uot; he said.

It is the negative impact that cancer has on so many lives that drives Hagen.

&uot;If we don’t do research we can’t find a cure,&uot; he said. &uot;We know it takes money, and we know this is one way we can help. We’ll do it until we come up with a cure, that’s the bottom line.&uot;