A 5K run and walk held in Livingston Sunday to fundraise colon cancer research raised $40,000.

The event, held at Kushner High School, saw 500 people crossing the finish line.

Organizers say the event was started by a high school senior and his two sisters who lost their mother to colon cancer in 2016. She was 47 years old and had the cancer in her system for 10 years and was never screened.

Colon cancer is the third deadliest cancer for men and women in the U.S. and is expected to cause 50,000 deaths this year.

The American Cancer Society suggests screenings beginning at 45 years old.