The Relay for Life 2010 was blessed by good weather and a lot of people who came out to remember those lost to cancer, and fight back against the disease.
The annual West Seattle Relay for Life, raising money for cancer research is a very special event not just because it goes all night long from June 10-11 at West Seattle Stadium but because it reaches across all ages, all incomes, all differences in fact to, as the American Cancer Society puts it, "Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back."
The event chair this year is Jilyan Perry, a familiar face you may know from Coffee to a Tea with Sugar in the West Seattle Junction. While they inevitably exceed these numbers thus far they have 26 teams, 217 participants registered, and $33,746.52 raised in pledges for the event.
B.J. Duft owner of Herban Feast and Fresh Bistro is donating meals for cancer survivors participating.
Relay for life of course is global effort with local events following the pattern set elsewhere that gives everyone a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. During the event teams of people will camp out at West Seattle Stadium and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, the event runs from 6:00 pm to 10:00 am.
Walkers are asked to solicit pledges for each lap they complete.
Celebrate - The Survivors Lap
Relay for life starts with a Survivors Lap during which survivors are invited to circle the track together and help everyone celebrate the victories they and we have all achieved over cancer.
Remember - The Luminaria Ceremony
Once it is dark enough people who have been touched by cancer and remember loved ones lost to the disease during the Luminaria Ceremony. Candles are lit inside bags filled with sand, each one bearing the name of a person touched by cancer, and participants can walk a lap in silence. The bags are placed around the track and in the stands spelling out the word HOPE.
Fight Back - The Fight Back Ceremony
Finally the event is summed up with a Fight Back Ceremony, where everyone can make a personal commitment to save lives by taking up the fight against cancer.
You can sign up for Relay for Cancer and join others from West Seattle in a fight against the disease here. You can join an existing team, start your own or sign up as an individual.
