Ready, set, Relay
Published 12:01 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008
All right, so you may have missed the meetings or maybe you didn’t even know about the event until recently. Whatever the reason why you haven’t signed up to participate in the 2004 Snoqualmie Valley Relay for Life, don’t worry about it, you’re not too late.
The Relay for Life is an 18-hour walk sponsored by the American Cancer Society that benefits cancer research. No, you’re not responsible for walking the entire thing by yourself – although some have managed to do this at past events – it’s a team event. All teams are different but most pair people up for one- or two-hour walking shifts. This year’s event will be held at Centennial Fields in Snoqualmie, so it won’t even be a track you’re walking on but a trail. The walk, which begins at 6 p.m. Saturday, June 5, isn’t a grueling trek, but rather a leisurely stroll with music playing and plenty of people to talk to along the way.
In fact, there’s even prizes drawn hourly for those walking, so you never know what’s going to happen.
Denise Dubose, who along with her daughter Karen have been overseeing team captain’s meetings and acting as the local volunteer organizers for the Relay, said registration for the event will be accepted until it actually begins. It is recommended, however, that you contact her as soon as possible if you’re interested in participating.
If you’re worried about the time constraints of organizing a team, don’t sweat it. I’m the team captain for the Valley Record team and if you ask people that work at the paper they’ll tell you, if they can do it, so can you. If you don’t believe my co-workers ask my wife, she’ll tell you the same thing.
One of the best things about being team captain is the support network and knowledge other team captains are so willing to share. Need an idea for a fund raiser? Ask a team captain, you’d be amazing what they’ve come up with.
The Snoqualmie Valley Dy-No-Mites team has already been out at a local supermarket selling baked goods to the tune of about $600. And that was just a morning’s work for the team, because I guarantee you they’ll be raising money up until the last minute of the actual walk.
While many teams have been working hard to raise money, perhaps the biggest coup was pulled off by the Rowdy Ramblers who held a potluck that not only had people bringing food, but paying a cover charge to get through the door.
If you can’t attend the event, please consider donating to one of the local teams, or look out for a team fund-raising event.
* If you have any questions about the Relay, contact Mandy Kelley at the American Cancer Society by calling (425) 322-1117 or Sue Beauvais at (425) 888-9666.
