Rochester MN (KROC AM News) - Freezing cold weather and a broadcast television scheduling conflict with a NFL play-off did not hamper the generosity of southeastern Minnesotans for the annual Rochester Eagles Cancer Telethon.

When the 20 hour long marathon broadcast wrapped up Sunday afternoon, the donation and pledge total was above one million dollars for a second consecutive year. The preliminary tally, which will likely rise due to last minute donations, was just over $1.04 million.

The money raised by the telethon is used to fund cancer research at the Mayo Clinic, the University of Minnesota and the Hormel Cancer Institute in Austin.

It was the 62nd year of the telethon from the Mayo Civic Center on KTTC-TV, although the first several hours of the program were broadcast on the CW Channel while NBC carried the NFC play-off game between the Green Bay Packers and the Arizona Cardinals. It was the first time in the history of the telethon the broadcast has been shifted from KTTC, which was KROC-TV when it was launched in 1954.

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