Relay for Life raises more than $128,000
Atlanta musician and cancer survivor Tom Willner performed during the luminaria ceremony at Relay for Life Friday.
MOSES LAKE - The Moses Lake High School track was filled to the brim Friday and Saturday as people walked for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life fundraiser, which raised more than $128,000.
"It was spectacular," said Cheri Stoker, American Cancer Society staff member. "So many people turned out. The community support was amazing."
Stoker said 967 participants had registered online, but she thought even more than that came out for the event.
The Columbia Basin Herald broadcast the event through its website Friday night, helping generate more than $3,000 in donations, according to Publisher Harlan Beagley.
More than 400 viewers joined the broadcast at www.columbiabasinherald.com
"It was a huge success, an overwhelming success," said Team Development Chair Sherri Osborne. "There was huge youth involvement. Moses Lake High School, Frontier Middle School, turned out in force."
Osborne said it's important to get people involved in cancer awareness when they're young.
"It gets that seed planted, especially for the middle school age," she said.
Survivor Chair Josie Ritter said more survivors participated in this year's relay than ever before. She estimated 160 survivors attended.
She was also the team captain for Team for Kids.
"We surpassed our goal of $3,100 by doing $6,500," she said. In addition to fundraisers throughout the year, they raised funds during relay with a drawing featuring over 40 items donated by community members, and through bracelet and magnet sales, she said.
There was entertainment throughout the night, including Atlanta musician Tom Willner, a two-time cancer survivor.
During the luminaria ceremony Friday night, in which candles inside paper bags are lit along the track in memory of loved ones lost to cancer as well as survivors, Willner's gentle piano playing heightened emotions already brought to the surface.
In the bleachers beside the track, luminaria bags arranged just so spelled out "hope" in large block letters.
"It was very moving," said Osborne of the ceremony.
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