More than 170 people participated in the Barksdale Cancer Foundation’s ninth annual handbag bingo event at the Bacon District Volunteer Fire Department in Wylliesburg on Saturday.

Foundation President Wendy Lankford said given how big the event was this year, organizers may have to look for another venue that can house more people next year.

“We had quite a few survivors there, people we have helped over the years,” Lankford said.

She noted that the organization was founded in 1999 and since that time the foundation has given out 254 grants totaling nearly $171,000.

“We do lots of other things besides the money,” she continued. “We do Ensure, we do gas cards. We do wigs. We do prosthesic items for women who have had breast cancer surgery,” Lankford said. “We do a lot of support services too. All of ours isn’t money, and a lot of people don’t realize that. A lot of people think we give them money and then leave them alone, but we don’t.”

She said this year they raised almost $7,200, which was several hundred more dollars than last year. Prizes included brands such as Vera Bradley and “31,” in addition to feature vendors from Scentsy, Avon, Premier and “31.”

The event also included a variety of door prizes, concessions and side pockets, along with the main event. While a majority of the prizes were donated from shops inside Charlotte County, shops from outside of the county donated as well.

The Barksdale Cancer Foundation operates as a nonprofit organization.

The organization was started based on the Barksdale family, of Phenix, losing three family members to cancer in a four-year timespan.