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RELAY FOR LIFE |
RELAY FOR LIFE2007 2006 2006 Relay for Life raises $59K 2005 2005 San Juan County - Relay for Life page 1 2004 |
2006 Relay for Life raises $59KStory and photos by Sharon Kivisto
posted 07/31/2006
The team raising the most funds was the Soroptimists with $12,631. CATS was second with $6,911. and the No Name team (Kerwin Johnson) came in third with $4,115. Widget Webert was the individual who raised the most funds with $7,050. Victoria Shaner came in second with $2,654.02. Debbie Dickinson raised $2,560.55.
The relay started with inspiring words from organizer Deanna Osborne, Vicki Thalacker and Seanene Kennedy. Thalacker focused on Craig Miles' words to live by. Miles lost his battle with cancer in April. CRAIG'S LIST TO LIVE BY
Kennedy spoke of the changes in her life since she was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly before her 40th birthday. It forced her to reexamine her life and make some painful changes including leaving an unhappy marriage. "Cancer is a great gift in a very ugly package," she said. You learn a great deal about yourself from the challenges you face. As Winston Churchill said, "If you find yourself going through hell, keep on going." Several years ago, she was involved in the Susan Komen walk on San Juan Island and wore the pink cap identifying herself as a cancer survivor and found she resented the attention. She avoided the first Friday Harbor Relay for Life in 2004 In 2005, she stood across the street watching and crying. Kennedy thanked Debbie Dickinson for asking her to speak this year. The timing was right, she was ready to return to the fold. She ended her speech with Betty Reese's quote: If you think you're too small to be effective, you've never been in bed with a mosquito. Besides raising money for cancer research. Participants also signed a banner which will be taken to Washington, D.C. along with banners from 44 other states. A Relay for Life event will take place there demanding that the federal government not reduce funding to cancer research.
Kimberly Cinchilla sang the national anthem and a color guard from the American Legion presented the flag. After the speeches, Cameron and Shay Byington cranked up the music and people who had survived cancer kicked off the event with the survivors' lap. Cheered on by onlookers, they marched around the quarter-mile track. As the survivors reached the finish line, the teams stepped onto the track as their names were announced. The teams have washed cars and dogs; held movie marathons; sold firewood; and held raffles and rummage sales to help raise money in the weeks preceeding the event. Team members also gathered pledges for each lap they walk. Contributions and sponsorships from businesses also were a part of Relay for Life. Hungry Clam provided dinner. Islanders Bank sold hotdogs. Paradise Cafe provided pizza. Shamrock Sound provided the DJ service. |
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