By Betsy Anderson

Make sure your Friday evening is free so you can come to a gala of local musical entertainment, poetry, improv and maybe even a clarinet solo Friday beginning at 7 p.m. in the Grange Hall.

On behalf of my Relay for Life team “Ruby Stilettos,” I’d like to invite San Juan Island residents and visitors to share with us an evening of laughter, talent, smiles, meaningful words and community fellowship. And it’s all to help support the American Cancer Society fight the battle against cancer.

Admission is by donation only, with a suggested donation of $5 for children younger than 10, $10 for adults and $20 per family. Sizzling refreshments will be served.

Who’s lined up? So far, we have the “Banjo Girls,” Michael Jean Carpentier and Noel Murchie. Ernest Pugh will share a monologue. You’ll hear Play Rite Boy Teddy Deane on keyboard, songwriter Daniel Finn on acoustic guitar, the band Rockfish, and local singer and bass player Tony Floreno. I plan to share some poetry and a clarinet tune or two. I will also join the stage with fundraiser co-captain Daniel Miller and our team member Nina Stone for some improv.

We still need some fresh voices, music groups, jugglers, kick boxers and dancers to join the list. Those are just ideas. Please let me know if you’d like to be a part of the celebration by contacting myself or Daniel by e-mail. Include your name, contact information and your art of choice.

Since I found out my dad was diagnosed with multiple myeloma — cancer of the bone marrow — in October, I wanted to do everything in my power to make a difference in his life and in the lives of those fighting all sorts of cancer. I thought, well, I can’t control the diagnosis, but I can gather up a team for Relay for Life and help raise money for research, education, advocacy and treatment of the disease.

This is personal. But cancer is personal, and I know that every person involved in Relay for Life has a personal reason for helping out. I want to honor each person who has cancer, who has survived cancer, who has passed on from cancer and all the people in our community who have made the time to make a difference in all of their lives. God bless all the teams here on San Juan Island. Keep pressing forward and shooting for the stars.

My personal “thank you” goes out to the community for supporting all these fundraisers and making such a difference. It is true, with one person mountains can move, but with more than one, the world will change.

Daniel, also a County Council candidate, said, “My vision for this event is to put on a first class show and my personal goal is to have a packed house and to raise a substantial amount of money.”

Please e-mail me at elizabethandersonk@hotmail.com or Daniel Miller at mountainsnow08@gmail.com if you’d like to participate.

Relay for Life is also looking for more teams. Please e-mail Deanna Osborne at relay_gal@yahoo.com or call her at 378-6877 for more details.

— Betsy Anderson, a former Journal reporter, is activities director at Islands Convalescent Center.