Relay for Life vendors sold all kinds of wares to earn money for cancer research.

The color purple has been embraced by the Lake Stevens community and will continue to take on even more meaning in the next two and a half weeks as Relay for Life of Lake Stevens quickly approaches.

The color purple, in the book of the same name written by Alice Walker, which was later made into an award winning movie, was a symbol of pain and suffering.

According to “The True Meaning of Color”, an article written by Stephanie Tallman Smith, the color purple, “reminds guests or friends that you are someone special, someone with class and dignity.”
Other definitions of purple include transformation, wisdom and enlightenment.

To those who Relay, the color purple is the color that cancer survivors get to wear as they walk around the track in the opening lap. Each of these descriptions effectively describes the characters of those who have and are fighting the incredibly hard battle against cancer—all types of cancer.

Last weekend, this community honored these cancer survivors, along with the thousands who have lost their battle as they Painted the Town Purple, a precursor to Relay for Life of Lake Stevens which will be held on May 19 and 20 at Lake Stevens High School.

“It’s to raise awareness for the actual event and to help teams with their fundraising,” Relay for Life Event Chair Kim Demary said.
Teams lined North Cove Park selling and raffling items to raise funds to help the American Cancer Society fight this terrible disease and provide support in many forms to those who are currently fighting.

The Lake Stevens Kiwanis Club’s team raised over $600 serving up a Pancake Breakfast. Others sold baked goods, plants, homemade gift items and much, much more.

Purple Siege, an Amazing Race style event, had teams racing around Lake Stevens looking for clues and completing tasks that would take them to the finish line. Austin and AJ Demary along with Brett, Wyatt and McCrae Blankenship won the Family Team race and Katie Stevens and Gracie Olsen won the Two Person team race. Each of these participants received $50 towards their Relay for Life fundraising goal.

Businesses around Lake Stevens who chose to participate were judged for how well they “purpled up.” Norm’s Market won the Overall Most Purple Award (stop by and make sure you go inside). Rainy Days Caffe in downtown Lake Stevens won for Most Spirit (again – go inside) and Whidbey Island Bank in Lake Stevens Center got the award for Most Creative.
Over 45 businesses participated this year.

The first annual Bark for Life brought in dozens of dogs who took their owners for a one mile walk in an effort to remind us that dogs get cancer too. The dogs were adorned in purple neckerchiefs and were given delicious treats as a reward.
 So far Relay for Life of Lake Stevens has over 66 registered teams and has raised over $60,000 with that amount going up daily.

There’s still time to get a team together and join in the fun as the Lake Stevens community comes together to create more birthdays!

“Paint the Town Purple is just a taste of things to come,” Demary said.

If you would like to join a team, donate or find out more about Relay for Life of Lake Stevens or the American Cancer Society please visit www.relayforlife.org/lakestevenswa.

 

blog comments powered by Disqus