Kick-off event planned for Mineral County's Relay for Life

Summer Crosby

Twenty-five years ago, Dr. Gordy Klatt, a Tacoma colorectal surgeon, wanted to enhance the income of his local American Cancer Society office so he decided to personally raise money for the fight by doing something he enjoyed—running marathons.

In May 1985, according to the American Cancer Society, Klatt spent 24 hours circling the track at Baker Stadium at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma for more than 83 miles. Throughout the night, friends paid $25 to run or walk 30 minutes with him. He raised $27,000 to fight cancer. While circling the track, he thought about how others could take part. He envisioned a 24-hour team relay event that could raise more money to fight cancer. Months later, he pulled together a small committee to plan the first team relay event known as the City of Destiny Classic 24-Hour Run Against Cancer. There were 19 teams that took part and the event raised $33,000.

Once again, the Mineral County Relay for Life is looking to hold an all-night event to raise money that will be used for cancer research and to fund programs underneath the American Cancer Society. On February 4, Peggy Temple said the kick-off event is planned where individuals can sign up their teams, learn how they can participate, learn about sponsorship and receive information on how the money is used, as well as learn about the American Cancer Society.

“Cancer never sleeps and that’s what we want to convey during this all-night event,” she said. “Each team will have someone walking on the track throughout the night.”

Teams can have three to four members or as many as 15 to 20 members. Temple said that the group can be a bunch of friends, family members or a business. There’s a lot of flexibility in both the makeup of the group as well as the number of individuals on a team. Teams will come up with names and will also decorate their campsites around the track. Individuals can also choose to sponsor through cash donations or inland services.

“It’s always a fun competitive environment to see who can raise the most money,” she said. “A lot of the money raised will go to cancer research. Since the creation of Relay for Life, survival rates have gone up drastically Money raised will also go to programs that help those with cancer find treatments centers, offer support to families and those undergoing treatment and more. This benefits everyone, including the citizens in our county.”

The goal for this year’s relay is to raise $27,000, which Temple says is a couple more thousand that last year’s amount. She said the event will include a silent auction, as well as the luminary ceremony. A lit candle is placed inside a bag, which has names written on the outside with the names of those who have survived cancer as well as though who have not.

“We set these up around the track and all the names are read aloud,” Temple said. “It’s a pretty impressive ceremony honoring and remembering those who have had cancer.”

Temple said she invites anyone to come and participate in whatever way they wish and also encourages anybody who has never been to the ceremony to come out. She said she appreciates the support from the residents of Mineral County.

“The residents of the county have been so supportive of this,” she said. “For people to come out and take part, it’s just fantastic.”

The kick-off event will be held at the Superior Ambulance building from 4 p.m to 6 p.m., on February 4. The relay itself and luminary ceremony will be held July 9 and 10, beginning at around 5 p.m. Teams are also able to sign up for the event by calling Temple as 822-0922 or Micki Tourtelotte at 822-4247.