POULSBO — It’s been just six months since the 2002 Relay for Life but organizers are already thinking about lacing up their tennis shoes and having another go at it.
The Relay for Life was started 18 years ago by a physician from Tacoma who ran a local high school track by himself for 24 hours to raise money and awareness for cancer.
Today, hundreds of communities across the nation gather each spring and summer for this inspiring fund-raiser that brings together teams of eight to 15 people for a 24-hour relay-style race. Teams raise money for the ACS, share cancer-related information and raise hope for cancer patients and survivors.
This July 18-19, the North Kitsap community will gather at North Kitsap High School for its fourth annual Relay for Life.
But before a single footstep around the track is taken, before a single luminary is lit in honor of those touched by cancer, before a single baton is passed, there’s work to be done.
North Kitsap event organizers have set a goal of signing up 40 teams (up from 23 last year) and raising $85,000 for the cause.
On Feb. 10, organizers will kick off the race toward this goal with a special event at The Dancing Brush Ceramics in downtown Poulsbo. Any North Kitsap resident is invited to RSVP by Feb. 6 for the gathering, which will include information about the Relay for Life, as well as inspirational speakers who have been touched by the work the ACS does. There will also be live music and food provided by local eateries.
People attending can also purchase and paint a $5 remembrance/celebration tile, which will eventually become part of a community mural.
Teams for the 2003 North Kitsap Relay for Life must be registered by April 1. One member of each team must commit to serving as the “team captain” and attending monthly planning meetings that will give information about team motivation, fund-raising and ACS education.
More information about the American Cancer Society and the Relay for Life is available by calling 1-800-ACS-2345 or going to http://www.cancer.org.
