Patty Brightman clearly recalls the day she decided that Relay For Life would be a cause worthy of her support.
That was eight years ago, and after joining a team of fellow Soroptimists for that inaugural Relay For Life, Brightman has become an event mainstay ever since.
“Eight years ago I joined up with the Soroptimist team, and I had just recently lost two friends to cancer right about that time too” she said. “I saw so much potential and what was going on with the event that I knew that I had to just step up and do it.”
For Brightman, stepping up has meant becoming captain of the Soroptimists team, one of Relay’s most active, as well as joining Relay’s event committee, where, as team development coordinator, she promotes participation, encourages team building and ensures everyone has what they need leading up to the annual two-day fundraiser.
There have been times when enthusiasm wanes, Brightman admits.
“I was sitting around with some friends and we we’re talking about how enthusiasm seemed a little down this year,” she said. “But you know, it’s not a numbers thing, it’s about a need.”
On San Juan Island, the need is great.
Funds raised through Relay For Life events, a nationwide program sponsored by the American Cancer Society, help fund research and support for people diagnosed with or who are battling the disease.
Contributions by ACS in turn help fund local support programs, including a 800-number that offers 24/7 support, taxi vouchers, gas vouchers, financial help with lodging for overnight treatments, even free wigs for those enduring the debilitating effects of chemotherapy. Local money raised through Relay For Life also funds cancer reasearch by Susan B. Komen Foundation and Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
Relay For Life chairwoman Elisa Howard is confident the high school track will be a buzz with activity and participation by Saturday, at 3 p.m., the time opening ceremonies get underway.
So far, Howard notes, 147 participants and 17 teams have registered, and $23,875 has been raised.
“There’s a lot of people that don’t register and that just come out on the day of the event,” she said.
Perhaps that’s you.
