WEST ALLIS, Wis. — What began as a neighborhood fundraiser for a child diagnosed with a brain tumor has blossomed into a must-see holiday attraction and a major fundraiser for childhood cancer research.

Twelve city blocks in West Allis light up each year to form Candy Cane Lane, which has drawn plenty of pedestrians but also bumper-to-bumper traffic for social distance-minded visitors in 2020. Two nights before Christmas, Santa Claus posed next to a sign with an updated yearly total after it surpassed $160,000 in donations from visitors.

“It’s such an incredible feeling to be out in the neighborhood and see so many people so happy,” said Colleen O’Neil Moran, a development officer for the Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer Fund.

O’Neil Moran has been the MACC Fund's liaison to Candy Cane Lane for 27 of its 35 years. The fundraiser began when neighbors banded together to help the family of Jeremy Kline, a boy on their block diagnosed with cancer in 1985.

This month Jeremy and his family celebrated his 40th birthday, while Candy Cane Lane surpassed $3 million in all-time donations for cancer research to the MACC Fund.

“It really, I believe, has literally brought light and hope not only to families with children battling cancer, but all families,” O’Neil Moran said.

Santa made his final appearance of the season Wednesday night, but Candy Cane Lane will welcome visitors each night through Sunday.