TAHOE CITY, Calif. — The 19^th annual Skate the Lake fundraiser was held along Lake Tahoe’s west shore on Sunday, attracting roughly 175 on everything from longboards and skateboards to roller skates and bicycles.

This year’s event raised more than $53,000 for Boarding for Breast Cancer’s education, awareness, and survivorship programs.

“Skate the Lake is one of our biggest events and each year it grows with more support and participants, for which we are so grateful,” said Lisa Hudson, B4BC co-founder and president, in a news release. “It is moving to see everyone so impassioned and energized by this cause, from new friends to volunteers and our team members. It means the world to breast cancer survivors and thrivers to benefit and participate, evoking a continued enthusiasm for our future events and outreach programs.”

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Participants gathered at Ed Z’berg – Sugar Pine Point State Park on Sunday morning to begin the roughly 28-mile trek, following paved trails to Tahoe City, and then along the Truckee River to The Village at Palisades Tahoe. From there, skaters made their way back to Tahoe City to the finish line at Commons Beach.

“This isn’t just a skate event, it’s a journey. It’s a journey of life,” Said Chuck Buckley  Vogt. “Breast cancer is one of those things where you can find it and you can beat it.”

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Vogt and Skate the Lake co-founder Curt Sterner began the event 19 years ago in honor of their mothers’ battles against cancer and in order to raise awareness. Nearly two decades later, Skate the Lake continues raise funds and provide support for those impacted by breast cancer.

South Lake Tahoe’s Sabrina Elizondo was one of a few women who are currently battling breast cancer that took part in this year’s Skate the Lake.

“If people don’t have a direct connection (to someone with breast cancer) and they’re just doing it for fun or out of the goodness of the hearts, that means a lot to me because they’re doing this for myself or for my girlfriends that I know that have this,” said Elizondo. “Every little single thing that everyone does means so much because I’m in it.”

This year’s event surpassed Boarding for Breast Cancer’s goal of raising $50,000. Eileen Burke was the top fundraiser with $1,875, followed by Doug Bonneville with $1,824 raised. Barbara Kane and Amber Burke’s Two for the Road was the top fundraising team, bringing in $2,820.

Boarding for Breast Cancer, which organizes Skate the Lake, will continue its skate series on Oct. 22 with the Skate the Coast event in Santa Monica. For more information, visit b4bc.org.

Justin Scacco is a reporter for the Sierra Sun, a sister publication of the Tribune.