Buckley helping to celebrate 25th anniversary of Relay for Life
Published 1:56 am Tuesday, April 21, 2009
The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life is celebrating its 25th anniversary, so Buckley organizers are recruiting people to be a part of the special overnight event which this year focuses on colon cancer.
The relay begins with the survivors’ Lap of Hope at 6 p.m. May 15 along River Road and state Route 410 and finishes 18 hours later at noon.
Survivors can still register for the Lap of Hope; contact Signe Lukasiak at 360-825-9115 or visit www.relayforlifeofbuckley and click “survivor registration.”
Joining a team is not necessary to participate in survivor events. Survivors will be recognized during the Lap of Hope which allows everyone to honor those who have won a battle with cancer and shows that cancer can be defeated.
An interesting twist to this year’s Relay in Buckley is the Colon Cancer Free Zone, an educational and awareness-raising campaign with a focus on preventing colon cancer.
Last year nearly 50,000 Americans died of colon cancer, the second deadliest cancer in the United States. The good news is colon cancer is one of the most preventable cancers because it often starts with a polyp in the colon lining. Several procedures can identify and remove potentially dangerous polyps before cancer develops or spreads. During peak hours, a registered nurse with oncology experience will be available to answer questions.
“At this moment about 9 million Americans can call themselves cancer survivors,” said Dru Dubuque, publicity representative for the Relay For Life of Buckley. “And that number will grow as long as we continue to raise money for cancer research, treatment and support.”
Last year Buckley teams raised more than $85,000 for the American Cancer Society.
Buckley’s 36 teams have raised more than $14,000 toward this year’s event and fundraising continues with a series of garage sales:
• Bust N Buns team sale, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at 446 Boyle St. in the Copperwynd development in Buckley;
• Hungry Housewives’ sale, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday at 115th Street Court East in Bonney Lake, off South Prairie Rd.
• Carbonado Parent Support Club sale, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 2 at Carbonado’s 8th Avenue Park.
