SANDPOINT —Two Mountain West Bank employees turned their friendly rivalry into a foot race across town last week that raised thousands of dollars for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

Matt Mire and Travis Icardo, both loan officers at the bank, spent nearly a year arguing about who was the faster runner, and, last Friday, the duo finally put an end to the debate when they raced nearly four miles from the bank’s Sandpoint office to its Ponderay branch.

The run was meant to settle a nagging question, but, more importantly, it was a chance to raise money for a cause both men believed in.

By asking friends, family members and customers to pledge money for the racers, Mire and Icardo were able to raise $2,400 for Relay for Life.

Diem Ebmeier, an administrative assistant at the bank who helped organize the race, said the final financial tally exceeded everyone’s goals.

“I’m so stoked,” she said. “It turned out way better than I thought it would.”

Although Mire won the race, Ebmeier said there was no gloating at the finish line.

“They were both awesome at the end,” she said. “They were high-fiving each other and there was no rubbing it in.”

For his part, Mire said that while winning was fun, being able to raise so much money was what really mattered.

“I thought the race went great,” he said. “We both finished and we raised a ton of dough for a great cause.”

The race was such a success that the bank is already planning a similar fundraiser for next year, according to Ebmeier.