AID TOWNSHIP — Amber Bruce’s first attempt at sales was a successful one.

Friday, she and a group of fellow sixth graders set up a booth outside Symmes Valley Elementary School and offered face painting, nail polishing and icees.

“We’ve probably got $400,” Bruce said.

The group, “Chillin’ 4 A Cure” made its debut in the annual Symmes Valley Walk For A Cure.

The proceeds from the event are donated each year to the American Cancer Society.

And each year, the whole community, it seems, turns out to participate in some way. Several student groups set up booths and sold everything from pizza to lemonade to cookies to face painting.

Kathryn Myers, of Willow Wood, works at the school and said she is pleased to see the effort made each year to raise money for cancer research.

“I lost my dad, my mother-in-law and sister-in-law to cancer,” she explained. “My husband has been diagnosed with skin cancer. I would love to see a cure. Many of the survivors here are my friends. And I have lost family members to this horrific disease.”

The goal this year was to raise $20,000.

Teacher Becky Bowling announced the tally was at $19,000 by 2 p.m. The school has raised $80,000 since starting its event four years ago.

The grand finale was the survivors’ walk, during which those who have beaten the disease walked with their families, to the applause of those standing on the sidelines.