Dining out

Relay for Life team faced stormy weather during their outdoor fundraising event Lunch on the Lot

It wasn't quite the nice, warm afternoon that Relay for Life teams had hoped for on Wednesday. Rather than being met with sunny skies while hosting Lunch on the Lot on June 9, the teams had to deal with gusts of wind and rain.

"As soon as we had gotten setup a huge thunderstorm blew through," said Peggy Temple, organizer for the event and member of the Quilting Guild's team.

Those who were lucky enough to have tents found themselves holding them down so they wouldn't blow away. Some tents even blew away. The Zylawy boys were supposed to play music at the event, but when their tarp got snatched up they were out of luck.

Kathy Gamble and Dana Austen, members of the Tarkio Trekkers team, said that tents were flying everywhere and they were holding theirs down during the storm so it wouldn't get taken away. The Trekkers were selling homemade pies and lollipops at the event.

Team member Deborah Lewis said that once the weather calmed down and the rain ceased the event turned around.

"It's been going pretty well since the weather let up," Deborah said. "We'd like to be able to sell a few more pies though."

Sharon Koke said that the day's event were just "perfect" even with the weather.

"We were warned though," Mary Jo Berry said.

Temple said that she had been watching the weather all week and admitted that she knew that weather stations were predicting that it was going to rain.

"All week it had been saying it was going to be rainy," Temple said. "I was checking the weather all week and they said it would start later so I thought we might get under the wire, but it came through earlier." Raylene Clumpner of the Ace High O relay team said that her team wasn't fortunate to have a tent or tarp above their heads when the storm came through.

"We stood here with our raincoats and umbrellas doing our best to protect the food," Clumpner said.

Clumpner and her teammates Kim Smith, Linell Newport and Leslie Morigeau were selling coleslaw and barbeque ribs. The ladies all got teary-eyed when asked what motivates them to take part in Relay for Life and commit to fundraising money.

"Just everything," Morigeau said getting choked up. "It's just the hope that we can help save our children and help those that have struggled through cancer."

The weather conditions didn't stop several people from coming out to the event. Paulette Foley and her daughter Penny munched down on ribs and other food items.

"This is just a wonderful event for the community. It's for a good cause," Paulette said. "And it's so delicious. So good."

Temple said that everyone who attended seemed to have a good time.

"We did okay for the weather; everyone seemed to have give a good time," Temple said.

Temple said that she had to take the money home and some paperwork and lay it out to dry.

"I guess it makes for little excitement," Temple said of the weather.

Temple said that individual teams will be doing some more separate fundraisers from now until the relay, which takes place on June 9 beginning with the survivor's reception at 5:30 p.m. Money raised from the Lunch on the Lot event all goes to the American Cancer Society.