When the Sago Mine tragedy struck the small town of Tallmansville Jan. 2, alumni and friends of West Virginia University living in the Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina came together to offer their support.

The Research Triangle Park, North Carolina Chapter of the WVU Alumni Association raised more than $2,000 for the families who lost loved ones in the tragedy.

Hundreds of alumni and friends turned out at Tir Na Nog Irish Pub on Jan. 7 for the fund-raiser. Proceeds from the event will be distributed to the West Virginia Council of Churches, one of the groups authorized to raise funds for the miners’families.

We are humbled by the love and support that so many people in the Raleigh-Durham area showed for the West Virginia miners,said Shannon Blosser, fund-raising chair for the RTP Chapter.As alumni of WVU , we wanted to do something to help our fellow Mountaineers. This event far exceeded our expectations. We want to thank everyone for coming out and supporting it.

In addition to the personal donations received, the Tir Na Nog Irish Pub and the RTP Chapter contributed funds.

For more information about the chapter, visitwww.wvu-rtp.com/.

The WVU Alumni Association, chartered in 1873, represents more than 165,000 University graduates residing in every county in West Virginia, every state in the nation and approximately 60 foreign nations. With nearly 100 registered chapters and constituent groups, the association’s 26,000 dues-paying members support Homecoming Weekend, the WVU Academy of Distinguished Alumni and dozens of other social and philanthropic programs. For more information about the WVU Alumni Association, visithttp://alumni.wvu.edu.