I feel like everyone I know has lost someone to cancer, including myself. And yet, when dealing with the grief, it’s easy to feel alone. That’s why the Relay For Life of Thurston County presented by Peak Credit Union has a special Remembrance Walk during the event. “It’s a safe space to heal, celebrate and remember those that have been impacted by cancer and those we have lost, shares Nichole Woolsey, senior development manager for the American Cancer Society. The event takes place June 20-21, 2026, at North Thurston High School.
You can still join the relay and/or donate on the website!
Relay For Life Remembrance Walk: You’re Not Alone
“Cancer can feel like a lonely journey at times,” shares Robert Lane, volunteer for Relay For Life of Thurston County and chair of the American Cancer Society South Sound Leadership Council. He knows firsthand what that’s like. In his words:
In the fall of 2019, our family received some of the worst news you never want to hear. After nearly six months of trying to understand the persistent stomach pain he was experiencing, my father-in-law finally got an answer: cancer. Our hearts sank, but we remained hopeful. We believed we had caught it in time and that there were still many years ahead.
Patrick Knutson was a staple in our community, a successful restaurant owner, active in the tourism industry through Experience Olympia & Beyond, an adventurer at heart, and above all, a dedicated father and family man. He had plans for more trails to explore, more trips to take and more memories to make.
Then COVID hit, and things became even more difficult. On October 13, 2020, we lost Patrick to pancreatic cancer.
Robert shares that he felt lost on how to process everything – the grief, the frustration. Then someone invited him to the Relay for Life:
When I was first invited to attend the Luminaria Ceremony and Relay For Life, I was skeptical. I wasn’t sure it would help. As the day unfolded, something began to change. Looking around, I realized that thousands of people surrounding me all had their own cancer story.
I watched the Survivor Lap and cheered for those who had fought cancer and were still here. I saw teams raising money for research and supporting families facing the same challenges ours had faced.
As the sun began to set, the atmosphere shifted. I sat quietly decorating luminaria bags for people I had lost: Patrick, my Grandma Mary, and my Aunt Tammy. One by one, I wrote their names and memories onto the bags. When it came time to light them and place them along the track, a wave of emotion hit me. I hadn’t realized how much grief I had been carrying or how much of it I had kept tucked away.
Standing there with my family and friends, watching the track glow with thousands of luminaria honoring loved ones, survivors, and caregivers, was something that I will always remember.
Watching my mother-in-law cry with tears of happiness that she felt seen and understood made it all the more worth it. The light stretching across the field felt both heartbreaking and healing at the same time. For me, that moment felt like a reset. It reminded me why I continue to raise awareness, support fundraising efforts, and celebrate those who are navigating their own cancer journeys. The Luminaria Ceremony gave me a space to remember, to grieve, and ultimately to reconnect with hope.
Participate in the 2026 Relay For Life Thurston County Remembrance Walk
Relay for Life gave Robert an outlet for his emotions. “Whether you are the person seeking treatment, remembering a loved one or a caregiver by their side, it’s nice to be surrounded by others who have a respect and understanding of the journey you went through. It’s often viewed as the most powerful part of Relay for Life,” he adds.
The luminarias are the heart of this special ceremony. Each one represents a person or people that someone in our community is missing. You can buy a luminaria to be lit before the event on the website. Volunteers will decorate them for you and make sure they are lit for the Remembrance Walk.
Or head to the Luminaria Tent at the Relay For Life Thurston County and decorate on-site. “The Luminaria are a way to honor cancer survivors, those battling cancer and those who have passed away,” shares Robert. “Each luminaria is a physical reminder of their journey and a reminder that no one has to face cancer alone.”
At 8:45 p.m. on June 20, the Remembrance Walk will begin with the bell ringing ceremony. This incredibly powerful event allows attendees to ring the bell for the loved ones they are remembering.
Then, the luminarias are lit. “The remembrance walk takes place around 9:45 p.m. as the sun goes down and the luminaria bags are lit,” shares Robert. “It creates an intimate space where the luminaria bags lit up are the stars of the show.”
Each luminaria is weighed down with donated canned food – so be sure to bring some! – that is then given to the Thurston County Food Bank. It’s a meaningful way to pay it forward and donate in the name of your loved one.
“Grief is not linear and it’s a space where people understand how complex it can be,” finishes Robert. “You can be joyful and laughing about a shared experience, then angry or frustrated at how things panned out for your loved one and then grieving the loss of a loved one in just the span of a few minutes. This is a space that can be what it needs to be for you at that given moment and recenters the folks who touched your life, whether they are still here or have been gone for a while.”
Visit the Relay For Life of Thurston County presented by Peak Credit Union website for the complete schedule and to sign up. Together, we will grieve, celebrate and survive.
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