Many from Lake Stevens walk in honor of those they love

BY PAM STEVENS | EDITOR Local Relay for Life means different things to different people Jeff Wise, and Eddi and Lynn Walty walk the track at Marysville-Pilchuck High School last Saturday as part of the Lake Stevens Lions Club Relay for Life team. Wise and the Waltys have had loved ones lose their battles with cancer. The Relay for Life has already raised more than $140,000 in North Snohomish County alone. Loud music, people dancing and laughing, enjoying each other’s company and loads of people walking around a high school track dressed up in different costumes.

It may sound like Homecoming but this was actually the scene at the annual North Snohomish County Relay for Life event which was held at Marysville-Pilchuck High School last Saturday.

The event began at 10 a.m. with a Survivor’s Breakfast and then at 12 noon sharp, teams, who have diligently been collecting money throughout the year, started walking the track in groups, making sure to have at least one person from their team walking the track at all times, until the close of the event on Sunday at 8 a.m.

Lake Stevens sent several teams to the Relay for Life including the Kiwanis Club, Rotary, Lions Club and the staff at the City of Lake Stevens, to name a few.

“It’s a really cool event,” Scotty Swift, City of Lake Stevens Community Programs Planner said. “The best part is that the money stays in our community.”

The Lake Stevens/Granite Falls Rotary Club team, headed up by Lisa and Doug Clawsen, walked to honor their own members who have survived cancer.

“We have two survivors in Rotary and cancer touches everybody,” Lisa said. “This has really been a nice event.”

Members of the Lions also have had this disease touch those close to them. They have collected over $7,100 for the Relay for Life.

Lynn and Eddi Walty were enjoying the crisp evening, getting ready to start another lap around the track with Lion member Jeff Wise.

“Cancer is very near to my family,” Lynn explained. “We have had over 30 members of our family who have died from cancer.”

Eddi was diagnosed with the disease in 2006 and now walks to help others.
As hundreds walked around the track that evening, white bags start ed lining the track, before long the entire track was lined with these bags holding candles and engraved with the names of those who have been lost to cancer along with those who have survived or are now fighting the disease.

At 10 p.m. a Luminaries Lap was made with all of the bags lighting the way for walkers. Many names from Lake Stevens appear on those bags bringing to light all of those from this community who have been touched by cancer of every kind.

The event meant different things to different people but brought a community together in the fight against something that touches us all.
“I have almost reached my goal of 100 laps,” one young boy yelled out. “I still have 33 laps left but I’m going to make it because I’ll be here all night long.”

He walks to remind those fighting cancer to continue the fight, no matter how long it takes.

The Relay for Life has collected $140,000. Their goal is $165,000. If you would like to donate go to www.nsnocorelay.org.

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