Rain doesn’t dampen Relay for Life spirits

Published 11:55 am Thursday, October 2, 2008

SNOQUALMIE – They came from all walks of life with the same goal in mind: help find a cure for cancer.

Beginning with a Survivor’s Lap at 6 p.m. on June 5, hundreds of team members took to the track for 18 hours of walking as part of the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life fund-raiser. Music played, tears were shed and smiles were had at the third annual event held at Snoqualmie’s Centennial Fields and aimed at raising money for cancer research.

In May 1985, Dr. Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon and avid runner, took the first step of his 24-hour walk/run around a track in Tacoma. That first trek found Klatt logging 83 miles and raising $27,000 to support the American Cancer Society. The following year, 220 supporters on 19 teams joined him in this overnight event, and the American Cancer Society Relay for Life was born. Eighteen years later the Relay for Life has spread to 3,800 communities in the United States and eight foreign countries.

Despite driving rain the night of the event, team spirits weren’t dampened at the 2004 Relay. About 20 teams set up camp and hit the track, many in costume – including cowboy hats, hula skirts and pirate outfits – to walk in the name of cancer research. The mood at the event, which features live music and games, might have been jovial, but the message teams were sending was clear: cancer needs to be eliminated.

It appeared that no matter whom you talked with at the event, cancer had somehow personally touched a family member or friend.

“There’s been a lot of cancer in our family,” said Issaquah’s Jan Smith, who was walking for the Snoqualmie Valley Hospital team.

Smith, along with daughters Ryan and Buaire, explained that when the invitation to join the team and support a worthy cause came, they didn’t have to think twice about participating. In fact, Jan explained, the biggest decision the family had to make regarding the event was whether to brave the rain – at Buaire’s suggestion – and stay overnight after their walking shift had ended, or head home.

North Bend Mayor Ken Hearing told the crowd during the opening ceremony that he’s lost two family members to cancer, but luckily has a sister that successfully battled the disease.

Brandi Cason, a junior at Mount Si High School who was participating on the school’s Key Club team, said he’d lost a great-grandfather to cancer. Cason, dressed as a pirate and performing his walking duties on roller skates, said the Key Club participates in several community events throughout the year.

“We try to do as much as we can,” he said.

Last year the Valley’s Relay for Life raised more than $62,000 (the goal was $45,000) and this year that number is expected to surpass $70,000, although the final numbers are yet to be tallied.

Organizers will discuss the event with team captains next week, but will take a few months off before the planning stages of the 2005 event begin later this year.

Travis Peterson can be reached at (425) 888-2311 or by e-mail at travis.peterson@valleyrecord.com.