When Lisa Schaffer asked if I would consider being on her Relay for Life team I said, sure, why not? After all, I didn’t have anything in particular planned for May 31 and I totally love and respect my Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce director.

True to fashion, I didn’t even read the information about what the relay was all about or what was expected of me. All I knew was that the American Cancer Society was coming to our Valley to put on this fund-raiser, and, since my mother died in February from breast cancer, I figured the least I could do was participate in a community event with this very prestigious organization.

When I arrived at Mount Si High School’s stadium I saw dozens of people setting up and decorating tents, getting registration under way and making ready for the weekend event.

The gist of the Relay is this: Your team, which should have a minimum of eight people, will have at least one person on the track walking at all times for 18 hours. We were all encouraged to bring camping gear and spend the night at the stadium, which many people did.

All ages were welcome, and cancer survivors were treated to a special ceremony and had their own social area in which to rest and take refreshments. There were young children, grandparents, great-grandparents and every age in between on these teams, and the cities of North Bend and Snoqualmie combined for “Team Up For Life.”

Lisa was in charge of the luminary ceremony and this was truly one of the most moving and emotional things I’ve ever witnessed.

Earlier in the evening, several volunteers filled white paper bags with sand and placed a small votive candle inside each one. Donations were made separately for luminary bags, with each having the name of a cancer victim printed on them.

These bags were placed around the track facing out so that when lit, people would be able to read them clearly while walking past. About three-fourths of the circumference of the track had named luminary bags and the rest were plain white.

Bags had been placed in the stands earlier and spelled out the word “HOPE” in large block letters. Six people lighted these, one by one.

Unfortunately, since I was one of the bag lighters, I did not listen carefully to Lisa’s speech, as I was concentrating on not accidentally setting one of the bags on fire!

After they were all lit, each person at the Relay was invited to come up to the front and light a candle for their mother, father, sister, brother, etc., and then walk the track en masse until they found their loved ones’ luminary and light the candle inside.

It was an incredible sight, and I’m not ashamed to admit I shed some tears, not only for my mother but also for all the people whose lives have been cut short by this terrible disease. Many of us cried and gave comfort during that emotional walk around the track.

But the weather couldn’t have been better, and Dave Lersten of Action Entertainment kept our hearts light with his upbeat selection of music that played continuously until quite late that night and again the next morning. A general feeling of goodwill settled on us as the luminaries burned all night long.

The following morning at the closing ceremony Jody Copeland, one of the ACS staff members, made some announcements and handed out the final prizes.

She revealed that more than $26,000 had been raised that weekend, which is no small feat for a first-year event!

Already people are planning for next year’s Relay for Life and suggesting ways in which to make it bigger and better. I know that, for myself, I plan to participate again and serve on one of the planning committees. It would be wonderful if this event could double in size next year. I can’t think of a better way for a family to spend a weekend together.

Anyone wishing more information can visit the Web site at www.cancer.org and click on the icon for Relay for Life.

Hats off to Jody Copeland and every one of the planners, organizers and participants at this community event. You all did a fantastic job!