Sam Giddis of Pembroke walks with her daughter, Haven, at the start of the 20th annual Rock’€™ N Race on North State Street in Concord on Thursday. Giddis was in the race for her mother’s team, Deb’€™s Defenders which raised $12,005 as the top team.
Sam Giddis of Pembroke walks with her daughter, Haven, at the start of the 20th annual Rock’€™ N Race on North State Street in Concord on Thursday. Giddis was in the race for her mother’s team, Deb’€™s Defenders which raised $12,005 as the top team. Credit: GEOFF FORESTER photos / Monitor staff

For the 20th annual Rock ‘N Race, the starting line was back at the State House after a couple of years of modified festivities.

More than 4,000 racers took off down the damp streets Thursday night to raise money for the Payson Center for Cancer Care. Participants walked and ran the course while listening to performances from local musicians who dotted the course.

Top teams included Deb’s Defenders with $12,005, The Forest Bathers with $5,325, Trust Troop with $5,240, Dan B Strong with $3,910 and Hooper’s Troopers with $3,870.