Submitted by Janelle Guthrie for Thurston County Relay for Life
More than 500 people from 71 different teams will gather at Komachin Middle School next weekend for Thurston County’s annual Relay for Life to fight cancer—but you don’t have to be part of a team to participate. The event, which runs from 6:00 p.m. Friday, June 23, through 6:00 p.m. June 24, is open to everyone who wants to make a difference.
Former Secretary of State Sam Reed is encouraging his friends and colleagues to join the event to show support for current Secretary of State Kim Wyman, who recently completed six weeks of chemotherapy and radiation for a rare form of colon cancer.
“It’s been seven years since I was diagnosed with stage three kidney cancer,” Reed wrote in a letter encouraging people to support the Relay for Life. “Since my left kidney fully contained the cancerous tumor, it was surgically removed, and – after two weeks of recuperation – I’ve been off and running since then. I was lucky. Unfortunately, my good friend and outstanding successor, Kim Wyman, hasn’t been so fortunate. She is weak and tired but is slowly recuperating at this time.”
Reed will be joining other local cancer survivors for the Survivor Lap on Friday night. He’s walking with and raising money for the “Wyman Rocks the Socks” team, and he hopes Wyman will be by his side.
Every participant has a similar reason to relay. Most have lost loved ones or friends to the disease—and many also relay to show support for those still fighting the battle.
What is Relay for Life?
The Thurston County Relay for Life is a team fundraising event where team members take turns walking around a track for 24 hours. Each team is asked to have a member on the track at all times to signify that cancer never sleeps.
The Thurston County Relay for Life is considered a “mega-event” because it generally raises more than $200,000 each year. Already this year, the more than 500 people participating have raised nearly $256,000 toward the event goal of $310,000.
Why Relay?
Last year alone, the Relay for Life movement contributed $406 million to fund potentially life-saving cancer research grants. According to the latest American Cancer Society (ACS) Annual Report to the Nation, cancer death rates are dropping across all racial and ethnic groups and among the most common types of cancer.
Last year’s fundraising paid for more than 1.2 million calls and chats from patients or caregivers seeking info and support.
Locally, Madelin White of Merle Norman Cosmetics, Wigs & Day Spa of Olympia & Lacey donates her time teaching a class for cancer patients called “Look Good, Feel Better” at Western Washington Oncology in Lacey. Relay for Life fundraising helps women purchase wigs to help them through hair loss due to treatment. Volunteers also provide free rides to treatments and doctor’s appointments through the “Road to Recovery” program. The Relay for Life resource team can also help families locate lodging across the country to help them when loved ones are in the hospital far from home.
Families facing cancer can call the ACS hotline at 800-227-2345 for resources.
What to Expect at Relay
The more than 70 Relay for Life teams will assemble pop-up tents around the track at Komachin Middle School, decorated to support this year’s Dr. Seuss-inspired theme – Cancer: Not here, not there, not anywhere! Teams will collect fundraising donations through bake sales, barbecues, silent auctions, raffles and sales of other items. Be sure to bring cash to support the cause.
The event will also have Relay for Life gear for sale, a gathering space for survivors and caregivers, information and registration tents, food and coffee trucks, pizza service and first aid all near the center stage where ceremonies and other activities will take place. Parking may be challenging but Paramount Church nearby has offered its parking lot and public transit is also an option. Carpooling is encouraged.
Opening ceremonies start at 6:00 p.m. Friday, June 23 followed by the annual Survivor Lap honoring cancer survivors and those who care for them. Survivors will have reserved parking, receive a gift bag full of donated items and enjoy a dinner provided by Applebee’s of Olympia.
Teams will then take to the track, participating in theme laps such as the bubble lap where people blow bubbles for a lap or the “sock monkey” lap in honor of a past participant who lost her battle against cancer but loved sock monkeys. Teams will also have fun activities to pass the time, like a lip sync challenge and a Mr. Relay drag queen beauty contest. Throughout the Relay, walkers will enjoy upbeat music from a professional disc jockey.
As the skies dim, volunteers will prepare for the Luminaria ceremony at 10:00 p.m. where participants honor survivors and lost love ones by decorating white paper bags that are then filled with a layer of sand and a tea light. Participants walk quietly until 11:00 p.m., enjoying the soft glow of the luminaria and reflecting on how cancer has affected their lives.
As the music resumes, walkers will continue relaying into the night and all the next day until Closing Ceremonies at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, June 24.
Whether you’re a Relay for Life regular or if you’re just learning about it, we encourage you to join us! Together we can help beat cancer.
Learn more at www.relayforlifeofthurston.org
