Photo caption: Part of the “Paint the Town Purple” activity, purple bows, balloons, and other decorations can be seen around Burlington
Photo caption: Part of the “Paint the Town Purple” activity, purple bows, balloons, and other decorations can be seen around Burlington
By Cameron Meyer
Starting at 2 pm on Saturday June 9th, the opening ceremony for the Skagit County Relay for life will begin at Burlington Edison High School football field.
After the opening ceremony, participants will do the survivor/caregiver walk. During this walk the survivors and caregivers are honored for their strength and courage with every step they talk. Those participating in the walks that aren’t survivors or caregivers of cancer are encouraged to cheer on everyone and walk along side them. A Luminaria ceremony follows the walk. During this ceremony, lights that represent a life taken by cancer or someone still fighting are lit around the Burlington Edison field. Finally, a closing ceremony is available to take action by (donating money??) and celebrate the progress already made.
By Cameron Meyer
Starting at 2 pm on Saturday June 9th, the opening ceremony for the Skagit County Relay for life will begin at Burlington Edison High School football field.
After the opening ceremony, participants will do the survivor/caregiver walk. During this walk the survivors and caregivers are honored for their strength and courage with every step they talk. Those participating in the walks that aren’t survivors or caregivers of cancer are encouraged to cheer on everyone and walk along side them. A Luminaria ceremony follows the walk. During this ceremony, lights that represent a life taken by cancer or someone still fighting are lit around the Burlington Edison field. Finally, a closing ceremony is available to take action by (donating money??) and celebrate the progress already made.
In addition the relay for life event, American Cancer Society is “painting the town purple” in order to bring awareness to the cancer movement. On May 23rd, at the Burlington Fire Department anyone was invited to learn about Relay for Life of Skagit County. This meeting included the new things are going to happen during the event, fundraising ideas, mingling with other teams, and an opportunity to turn in money that was already raised. Painting the Town Purple was also discussed in this meeting. From May 25th to June 3rd, one might see a purple bows, balloons, or other décor around the county that represent support for those fighting cancer. Participants are encouraged to decorate storefronts, light poles, and “Anything we can get our hands on”.
Fundraising can happen at anytime with the Relay for Life app. With the app, users are able to process donations, including checks and credit cards, while also sending texts to ask for donation.
On the Relay for Life website, users are able to look up a specific relay for life event, for example “Relay for Life Skagit County”. This website comes up with information about the event and has statistics about the top teams, companies, and participants that are raising money. The goal for the Skagit County Relay for
In addition the relay for life event, American Cancer Society is “painting the town purple” in order to bring awareness to the cancer movement. On May 23rd, at the Burlington Fire Department anyone was invited to learn about Relay for Life of Skagit County. This meeting included the new things are going to happen during the event, fundraising ideas, mingling with other teams, and an opportunity to turn in money that was already raised. Painting the Town Purple was also discussed in this meeting. From May 25th to June 3rd, one might see a purple bows, balloons, or other décor around the county that represent support for those fighting cancer. Participants are encouraged to decorate storefronts, light poles, and “Anything we can get our hands on”.
Fundraising can happen at anytime with the Relay for Life app. With the app, users are able to process donations, including checks and credit cards, while also sending texts to ask for donation.
On the Relay for Life website, users are able to look up a specific relay for life event, for example “Relay for Life Skagit County”. This website comes up with information about the event and has statistics about the top teams, companies, and participants that are raising money. The goal for the Skagit County Relay for
Life is $55,600.00. So far $34,609.30 has been raised. One of the top participants in the Skagit County Relay for Life is Melissa Dahl who has raised $1,750 towards the fight for cancer.
Melissa was diagnosed with breast cancer on May 7th, 2013. While breast cancer isn’t uncommon for women Melissa shared “I never thought in a million years that I would be diagnosed with cancer.” In addition to Melissa’s breast cancer, she was eight weeks pregnant with her first child. After taking a positive pregnancy test, Melissa explained that she had felt a lump in her breast and thought it was only an enlarged milk duct. After telling her doctor about this alarming bump, Melissa was referred to a doctor in Seattle who tailored a chemotherapy treatment to her cancer and her pregnancy. During the treatment, Melissa also had surgery to resect the cancer.
While going to one of Melissa’s chemo appointments, her water broke and she was rushed to another hospital to give birth to her son. Melissa shared that soon after her son was born, in February of 2014, she was cancer free. A worry of Melissa’s during the whole process was of course her son, but also if she could have children after radiation. She explained “Usually chemo makes people sterile but I ended up having a baby girl last year after being cleared by my doctor.”
Coming up on her 5th Relay for Life, Melissa says she keeps coming back for lost of different reasons. She likes to celebrate all of the survivors that have beaten or are going through the cancer process. She also shared that “At night lighting the luminarias is very peaceful, somber, and emotional but a great way to remember who has passed… it’s a celebration but also a memorial.” Melissa explained that she has two grandpas, one who passed away from cancer and one who walks with her as a survivor.
In order to join Skagit Valley Relay for life, one can sign up online. There’s more information about the event, how to donate, and how to join a relay, at http://relay.acsevents.org and search for Skagit County. Melissa’s final words to share were “Cancer affects everyone unfortunately and relay is a great way to celebrate and remember those who have suffered… Cancer can happen at any age and it’s important to get yourself checked.”
