Lake County Relay for Life raises more than $50,000 for cancer research
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RONAN – Despite below average temperatures and rain, more than 250 people in 20 teams arrived at the Ronan Sports Complex to relay for a cure during the 16th annual Lake County Relay for Life June 18-19. Held in Polson for the past 15 years, this year’s relay was held in Ronan for the first time.
“We asked if it could be in Ronan, and things took off,” Event Coordinator Joyce Kackmann said. “This venue is perfect, very easy to set things up.”
Proceeds from this year’s event will go toward: research grants, prevention programs, community and patient support, detection and treatment programs, management and construction of hope lodges. The theme was “Passport to Hope,” with each team representing a different country.
“We incorporated the passports and stamps to try to get people to move around a bit more,” Kackmann said.
Two of the required stops to receive stamps were the mission delivery and advocacy groups. In the advocacy area of the tent, volunteers solicited feedback so they could let elected officials know what the people want through the Cancer Action Network.
“It’s the lobbying part of the American Cancer Society,” volunteer Linda Cox said. “We’re here to educate people on the issues and let elected officials know what we want to change.”
The organization notifies members via email and postcards when important issues arise so they can go out and vote to make a difference.
“By doing this we make issues more personal to officials,” Cox said.
In the mission delivery section of the tent, volunteers handed out materials to bring awareness to the importance of colonoscopies. Sunscreen packets were also given away.
“It’s important for children to protect themselves from exposure to the sun, as it can affect them later in life,” Cox said.
“Colonoscopies are very important procedures,” Cox said. “They can (detect) things up to a year in advance, and can completely prevent colon cancer if caught early (enough).”
The first 100 participants to travel to each country around the track were awarded certificates for free ice cream cones from Dairy Queen event emcee Wayne Fuchs. Fuchs has been the announcer for Lake County’s Relay for Life for the past 16 years.
“It’s a really fun event to be part of,” he said.
Participants were also entertained by a cake walk, bingo, and poker runs throughout the evening organized to keep walkers awake and engaged.
At 10:30 p.m., more than 600 luminaria were placed around the edge of the track in a ceremony to honor those who lost their lives to cancer. The bags cost $10, and were part of the total fundraising effort.
At the conclusion of the walk at 7 a.m., three individuals were honored for raising more than $1,000 each, on their own. This included Marti Bishop of the Bishop Bombers, Kaitlyn Kackmann of the RGT Chimney and Landscape team, and Gary Teggeman, member of the Methodist Church Cheerful Heart team . Though the relay is over, donations for this year’s event can be accepted through August.
