Grant/south Adams counties' Relay for Life starts

Program begins tonight

COLUMBIA BASIN - The 2008 Relay for Life kicks off tonight for Grant and Adams counties.

The kickoff event is at Big Bend Community College in the ATEC building, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

"We're going to have lots of fun," said Chairperson Terry Moore.

Two guest speakers are lined up for the evening. One is a local cancer survivor, and the other is a survivor and motivational speaker.

Survivors are recognized at the event, while food and door prizes are given out.

"We also have a video we made of last year's relay that we're going to show," Moore said.

A mini luminary ceremony for cancer survivors and victims is included in the kickoff.

Moore noted the Grant/South Adams Relay for Life is in its 20th year. The theme for 2008 is Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back.

At the kickoff, the history of the local relay is going to be revealed.

"I think it's going to be a great event, and we hope lots of people show up," Moore said.

Last year, $145,000 was raised in the community, surpassing the organization's goal of raising $110,000.

The goal for 2008 is to raise $170,000. The goal was set by the American Cancer Society and based on the amount of money raised last year, Moore noted.

Area groups benefiting from the funding include Camp Goodtimes, Road to Recovery, and Look Good, Feel Good, she said.

Survivor Chair Wendy Gilbert said 198 survivors participated last year, compared with 118 in 2006.

The increase might be due to the addition of a survivor chair position on the committee, Gilbert said.

Gilbert said seeing survivors at the event gives people hope. The first time she participated in Relay for Life was in 2002, two years after she won her fight with cancer.

"When I got on that track, I was amazed at how many people from the area had cancer and survived," she said.

Her hope is that all survivors participate in the event.

New teams can pick up a sign-up packet at the kickoff, or they can sign up at http://relay.acsevents.org.