Relay for Life teams sign up early at kick-off event

Even though the acutal event is not until August, Sanders County has a head start on the 2011 Relay for Life, which is the signature national fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. 

The Relay for Life kick-off event at the Plains Senior Citizen Center on Sunday afternoon registered six teams, which makes the current total at ten. Megan Beason, the event chair, said the goal is to have 30 teams by August. 

“The idea of the kick-off event is to get people to sign up for teams early, and not wait until August.  It also costs fifty dollars less if people signed up at the kick-off,” said Beason.  “I think this is a pretty typical sized turnout this year.”

There were about 50 people at the event which included music, refreshments, team sign ups along with speakers from Clark Fork Valley Hospital and Plains’ Mayor Mike Brinson, who gave the Relay for Life proclamation to start the event.

“I think this is such a wonderful and important event that needs to happen,” said Brinson.  “I try and go out and walk every year even if I’m not on a team.”

According to the proclamation, there are about 5,290 news cases of cancer in Montana, and over 1,000 people are expected to die from the disease this year.  Relay for Life is a tribute to those who have died and presents an opportunity for survivors and supporters to walk and network with friends and local businesses for a common goal.  The mayor also recognized August 5 and 6, as official Relay for Life Days, which are this year’s race dates at the Sanders County Fairgrounds in Plains.  The first Sanders County Relay for Life was held in Thompson Falls in 2000, according to Cheri Seli, the corporate sponsorship chair.

Cancer survivor and caregiver at the Clark Fork Valley Hospital, Janet Gates also spoke at the kick-off, telling stories of caring for patients and families.

“The reason I continue to do this work after all these years is to work with the families and patients who have taught me so much.  Maybe we can’t put more days into life, but we can help them make their days left in life a little bit better.  We get so much more from these people than we ever give.”

Fern Johnson, the Hospus Volunteer Coordinator at Clark Fork Valley Hospital, also gave attendees an opportunity to become a caregiver or volunteer. 

“A volunteer can do just about anything to help.  They can simply sit with families and patients and give caregivers a small break.  You really can provide support to everyone as a volunteer,” said Johnson.

Gates also continued to speak about cancer statistics and patients.  According to Gates, death from cancer is not always painful and about 20 percent of cancer patients feel no pain at the time of death, especially if the patient is treated correctly.

“However, I have learned a lot from patients,” said Gates.  “I once had an 89 year old man who was dying.  He wanted to be able to still work on his computer without being foggy, so he didn’t always take his pain meds.  I learned that you have to give the patient the pain control that they want.  These people and families continue to teach us that we are not always the expert.”

The theme of this year’s race in Sanders County is “Seasons of Hope.”  Tables and decorations at the party were in holiday themes such as Christmas, Easter, Halloween, July 4th, and Valentine’s Day for example.

Typically, cancers survivors make the first lap of every Relay for Life; this year’s lap will begin at 7:00 p.m. and the luminaria ceremony is to start at 10:00 p.m. on August 5, according to Cheri Seli.  The race begins at 6:00 p.m. and the fee to register a team is $125.  Team members are encouraged to raise $100 each and asked to set up a “camp site” at the event as a team’s headquarters.