Secondary school hosts mini Relay for Life

MOSES LAKE — The students at Columbia Basin Secondary School in Moses Lake learned more about cancer while helping find a cure.

All week they participated in awareness events leading up to a mini Relay for Life on Friday. Olympic torchbearer in 2002 Nayda Littlefield spoke at an assembly. Following the assembly, students and community members walked laps.

It was the school's first time holding a Relay for Life.

"We've never done anything like this before. I just thought it would be a wonderful chance for our students to give back to the community," said Student Assistance Specialist Kathi Uhlinger, who organized the event.

The attire students wore each day of the week carried a theme recognizing different cancers, Uhlinger said. On Monday, students wore hats and sunglasses to symbolize skin cancer. They wore pink Tuesday to symbolize breast cancer. On Wednesday, students wore green to symbolize leukemia. Thursday they wore teal to symbolize ovarian cancer and light blue to symbolize prostate cancer.

Uhlinger said two teachers who are skin cancer survivors shared their stories to students, who had no idea the teachers battled cancer.

"It's been a good time of sharing for people," she said.

During the assembly, the mic was opened up for people to share their thoughts. Several students spoke of family members with cancer.

"They just consistently amaze me with the things that they've experienced in their lives and the positive outlook that they have," said Principal Sherrie Patterson.

Crown Moving Company partnered with the school to put on the event. Food Pavilion donated helium for balloons and food for the classroom raising the most money.

Students raised more than $650 through their own donations or donations from members of the community.

At the assembly Friday, students paid 50 cents for a strip of tape to help duck-tape two middle school teachers to the gym wall.

Teachers brought in baby pictures for a cutest baby contest, where students voted for their favorite picture with monetary donations.

Security officer Jorge Ybarra promised to wax his legs, arms and chest if students raised $500.

Ybarra said his brother has had Leukemia for more than 10 years, which inspired him to help raise money by waxing his body.

"The small amount of pain is nothing compared to what these actual cancer patients have to go through," he said.

Assistant Principal Michael Nordsten is kissing a pig for the $500 mark, and the school's attendance secretary is dying her hair purple.

One teacher promised to donate 10 cents for each lap the students in his class make around the track.

"I have been really proud of the staff for stepping up and saying, 'Yeah, I'll do this to help us out,'" Uhlinger said.