Relay
For Life |
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Who would have thought that 24 hours could go by
so fast and yet hold so much meaning! Perhaps the meaning actually comes
from all the lives that have been touched by cancer. Every person has
a unique, yet somehow similar story. What makes the stories similar
is the spirit inside each person and loved one.
This is the first year Soroptimist International (SI) of Sequim has participated in the Relay For Life. It was a 24 hour marathon to raise awareness and funds for cancer research, education and patient services. We joined into partnership with the two Port Angeles (PA) Soroptimist clubs. The Port Angeles (noon) club has been a sponsor of the Relay For Life for over a half a decade; the Jet Set joined in about three years ago. We had 43 Soroptimist walking the track with family members at specified times during the entire marathon. At first I kept questioning WHY SI Sequim hadn’t been involved before this year. Then it dawned on me, what was more important was that we NOW are involved. |
 Soroptimists from Sequim and the Port Angeles clubs support Relay For Life. |
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Jeri Bawden from the PA club (also former District
1 Director), contacted us about the Relay For Life. Our club voted to
support this community and national service project. As a participating
team, we donated $75.00 and made a commitment to have twelve walkers.
Our club does a lot in our community; it seems we are constantly busy.
A lot of preparation and organizing went into this event. Having the longest track record and a wealth of experience, the PA clubs lead the way. The theme for the event this year was “Carnival.” Jeri and a few of the PA club members came up with a slogan for the banner they had made up: “Bubble Bubble, Cancer’s Trouble.” We had bubble wrap for the canopy posts. Jeri found a wonderful bubble machine and the PA club supplied little bottles of bubbles – like you see at weddings. Members of the PA clubs brought two canopies with removable sides loaned by the volunteer fire department (which was arranged by PA noon club’s President Lori who is a volunteer fireman and E.M.T.); chairs; food; drinks; a table on which to place the goodies (and literature about Soroptimist). The PA clubs were so well prepared. The food and beverages were available to not only for the Soroptimist and family members, but for all participants in the marathon. The Relay For Life started at 6:00 pm on June 6, 2003. Cancer Survivors were encouraged to arrive by 5:30 in order to pick up a special medal. These courageous people did the first lap around the track. Sponsors of the Relay did the second lap; we carried our banner. |
As I watched the cancer survivors turn the first
corner of the track, I noticed they were holding hands. I felt a lump
in my throat and my eyes got wet. There was unity in their spirit. As
they joined hands, they joined hearts. This was the first, of many,
loving and moving experiences at the Relay.
A special candle lighting (Luminaria) ceremony was scheduled for 11:00 pm on Friday. The Luminaria are candles set into bags that contain sand. Each bag had the name of a loved one who either survived or succumbed to cancer. Some of the bags were decorated elaborately, others had simple designs. But the candle light inside each was the same. I left the track Friday night before the Luminaria ceremony. When I returned on Saturday afternoon, I heard all about the inspiring ceremony. Jeri gave an eloquent speech as all the candles were lit and there was a time of silence. Emotions were so close to the surface that verbal words would have been meaningless. When the lights on the track went out, the lights emitted from the Luminaria bags provided all the light that was needed. The light of Love guided the way. It was so wonderful to work with the PA clubs on such a worthwhile project. By the end of the Relay, the total collected for our club was $2536. We have received additional donations to bring that amount up to $2866 so our collective contribution to the American Cancer Society was over $4000. We were rookies this year; next year we’ll do even better. Kathy Purcell
with Colleen Blazier / |
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SI Sequim |