It's a whole lot of money, and it goes a whole lot of places to save and improve the lives of folks touched by cancer.

The millions raised each year by Relay for Life arm the American Cancer Society with funds to maintain far-reaching services, some at local levels and some benefiting the world's fight against cancer.

"The four things we focus the most on are research, education, programs and services and advocacy," said ACS spokesperson Nicol Barnes.

That means while some dollars go toward crucial studies for cancer detection and treatment, many funds simply help soften the blow for individuals with cancer, providing them with services to make their lives feel less thrown off by their affliction.

"Our success is in the relationships we build, and bringing together people and letting them know that there are resources out there," Barnes said. "We can help them, and we're here to support them."

About $100,000 was raised at the Kootenai County Relay for Life fundraiser last year, Barnes said. Millions were raised at the more than 5,000 relays held nationwide.

A portion of the funds raised in Kootenai County are given to the national level of ACS, Barnes said.

"National supports us in other ways. It helps fund our websites and call centers," she said.

The rest goes to the regional Great West division, which determines how to distribute the funds across its 12 states.

A good deal is distributed in research grants.

Thousands of researchers apply every year for ACS grants, Barnes said, which are approved by a panel.

Grants are awarded based on the type of research, she said, and not on location.

"It's quite a process," she said. "There is so much really good research being done."

Idaho was awarded $1,449,000 in research grants last year, divided between a grant for Boise State University and another for the University of Idaho in Moscow.

ACS distributed a total of $475,161,503 in grants nationwide last year, according to ACS records.

"Some ask why doesn't more of the money stay locally?" Barnes said. "The fact is ACS has to focus on ways that can help the most people. And the way we help the most people is by funding research and through advocacy efforts."

ACS funding has supported studies across all areas of cancer research, Barnes added. Some discoveries have included using papsmears to detect cervical cancer, mammography to screen for breast cancer and the identification of obesity as an increased risk factor for multiple types of cancer.

"It's all different," she said of the research, adding that 44 recipients of ACS grants have gone on to win the Nobel Prize.

Some ACS funds are channeled to its sister organization the ACS Action Network, which lobbies for interests like insurance coverage of cancer-related exams.

Most individuals benefit personally from ACS dollars by relying on the nonprofit's programs.

These try to address the individual needs of folks with cancer, said Suzanna Spencer, chair for the Kootenai County Relay for Life.

Services include gas vouchers for folks driving back and forth to cancer treatments, and helping individuals purchase wigs or prosthetics needed after cancer treatments and surgeries.

ACS provides support groups, too, and free airfare for patients' medical related trips.

"We also do programs like helping them do their makeup differently after chemo, so they know how to draw on their eyebrows," Spencer said, referring to the "Look Good...Feel Better" class. "They seem like small things, but for people fighting cancer, it's important for them to try to have somewhat of a normal life."

Spencer, whose sister died of a brain tumor just before graduating high school, said one of her favorite local programs is Camp Goodtimes in Post Falls, offered to children with cancer.

"They can just be a kid, even though they might be going through cancer treatment," Spencer said.

She has seen many rely on the local support group Man to Man, she added, for men diagnosed with prostate cancer.

"They find the forum to get together after they have prostate cancer to answer questions among themselves," Spencer said. "That's one that is touching to me."

ACS also provides college scholarships for cancer survivors, Barnes said.

"I work on the Moscow relay as well, and a lot of the committee members are students who have received the scholarship," Barnes said. "It helped them go to college and move on with their lives."

Very little funding is needed for operation of ACS, Barnes added, which is primarily run by volunteers.

ACS has only two paid positions in the state of Idaho, she said.

"Everything else is done by volunteers," she said. "The money is spent very carefully on ways we can help people."

One question Spencer hears often, she said, is why no funds go toward paying individuals' cancer treatment.

There are already many organizations that do, she explained.

So ACS takes care of everything else.

"We've chosen to stick to our (strength) of research and programs and services and education," Spencer said.