Relay for Life raises funds to support those fighting cancer

Marysville's Asbery Field hosted the North Snohomish County Relay for Life this year which raised more than $80,000 for cancer research and services.

This year's relay was held on July 20.

The 18-hour event is a walking relay around the field by various teams that have collected donations.

The event is a national fundraiser for the American Cancer Society (ACS). The organization uses the funds collected both for research and to provide free services to cancer survivors and those recently diagnosed.

"The money we raise goes toward rides that people need help getting transportation to their treatment, lodging if they have to go to a faraway hospital, and wigs for anyone who has undergone chemo and lost their hair," said Katie Thompson, who works at the ACS and was one of the organizers of this year's event.

The ACS also uses some of the funds for education.

"We have an awesome ACS hotline where anyone diagnosed can call," said Thompson. By calling the hotline cancer survivors can get counseling 24 hours a day.

The number for that hotline is 800-ACS-2345.

The ACS also provided live entertainment, food, bands, a beer garden and a silent auction at the north Snohomish County event.

Many of the participants came out to honor someone they loved or someone close who is dealing with cancer currently.

"For me, I lost my best friend almost three years ago to cancer, and I've lost family members," said participant Rhonda Snyder.

"It was really hard going through that watching my best friend die," she said.

Participant Savannah Benson agreed with Snyder.

"Same here, she was like an aunt to me and just watching her pass away was really hard," she said.

Snyder said they want to help in any way they can. "Anything we can do to raise awareness and eventually find a cure," she said.

Many people come back to the event year after year to continue to recognize those they have lost.

"It's very special to us. It's at least 10 years we've been doing this as a team. A couple of years ago we lost a very dear Soroptimist lady," said Marysville Soroptimist member and relay participant Renae James. "She was a big influence on our community as well as our club."

One of the organizers of the event, Linda Clark, is in her 12th year of participating in the event.

"We started Relay because we were affected very personally by cancer and we wanted to make a difference for the rest of the people coming behind," she said.

Survivors also come to the event to participate and raise funds for everyone who is going through cancer now.

Participant Pennie Alaniz is a survivor and this year was the first year she came to the Relay for Life.

"My sister started a team in my honor. This is the first year I've been able to do it," she said.

"It's pretty cool and I've been out here since yesterday helping them set up. It's amazing."

Survivor Cathy Thompson said she enjoys coming to the event each year.

"It's always fun," she said. "This is all my family and we're kicking cancer, we hope."