April 12, 2008 - by Dixie A. Walter: Judy Justice, owner of Tan & Tips has put together the first Relay For Life basket of goodies in her shop located at 201 Carter Street East in Eatonville. Judy is a member of the Red Hat Flamingoes Relay team. Chances on the basket are $1 per ticket or $5 for six tickets.
     Included in the colorful, flip flop basket, fringed with beads, are a pair of wearable flip flops studded with crystals; a bottle of wine; flip flop glass identifiers; candles; paper plates; napkins and a note pad, all with the flip flop motif.
      Eatonville's Relay For Life is July 12 through 13 at B. W. Lyon Field in Eatonville. The Eatonville part of the American Cancer Society's Web site says $4,412.37 has been raised so far, with 91 days left until Relay starts. This year's theme is "There's No Place Like Hope."
      If you want to help with this vital cause please contact Karen Woodcock, Event Chair email karenw@frugal.com phone 253.307.9288 or got to www.rfleatonville.org. 

     This year's Relay For Life theme, There's No Place Like Hope, is underscored by the sub-theme, Follow the Yellow Brick Road to Cureville, as dedicated local volunteers begin gearing up the two-day event which raises funds to fight cancer. Local entertainer, young Emily Randolph wowed those who attended the Relay kick-off with her rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Barely seen in the photo above is a most important message, "Volunteers are the Heart of Relay."

Fundraising Already Starting with a Bang

     by Dixie A. Walter
     February 9, 2008

     Eatonville volunteers have already raised $3,244.87 and the Relay For Life is still a little over five months away. The American Cancer Society's monetary goal for Eatonville this year is $77,000. Chair Karen Woodcock has set a personal Relay goal of $90,000. According to Tiffany Salesky, the town's ACS representative, "Some people think Eatonville can raise $100,000 this year.
     Last year the Relay raised over $87,000 with Woodcock also chair of the event. She asks, "If we did over $87,000 last year, don't you think we should beat that amount this year?" Adding, "I have my work cut out, but I have an awesome committee and without them I couldn't do it." During the first five years of participation Eatonville Relays have raised almost $300,000.
     During the Relay kick-off ceremony last Saturday Salesky pointed out that people tend to five 50 percent more in donations online versus being asked "face-to-face." Eatonville raised over $16,000 online in 2007 and it was their first year online.     
     It is nearly impossible to find anyone whose life hasn't been touched, in one way or another, by the specter of cancer, a disease that occurs in many forms and can attack almost every part of the body. The diagnosis alone can be terrifying. Perhaps a little less so nowadays as cancer research makes strides in combating various forms of the disease. For example, leukemia was considered a death sentence a few decades ago. But today the survival rate is extremely encouraging. 
     Ashley Markum, 23, gave an inspiring speech during the Relay kick-off. At 20 she was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma during her first semester of college. Ewing's Sarcoma is a rare form of cancer which usually attacks children and young adults. The Children's Cancer Web says, "The peak incidence is between ages 10 to 20, it is less common in children under five or in adults over 30. Sarcomas are usually malignant and, as a rule, grow from connective tissues such as cartilage, fat, muscle or bone.
     Markum's tumor was in her shoulder and she went through punishing treatments including surgery, stem cell transplant, radiation and chemotherapy,  losing her hair in the process. She is now cancer free and has become an accomplished advocate for Relays around the area.
      Relay for life is an annual overnight event taking place in over four thousand two hundred communities in the U.S. and growing internationally. Started in 1985 by Dr. Gordy Klatt, a Tacoma colorectal surgeon, Relay For Life has become the "signature" ACS event and largest fundraiser. There are four stated goals for Relay are to raise money for cancer research and support cancer patients, raise awareness of cancer, recognize survivors and memorialize those who fought but lost their battle with the disease.

Teams to Date...

      According to Tiffany Salesky these are the 15 teams who have committed so far:  Rebels With a Cause (Tami Rahier); Walk-n-Rollers (Sharline Charaba); Hope For All (Wendy Smitherman); Know "Paine," No Gain (Jason James); Team Cindi (Tiffany Salesky); Team Hope (Sarah Cole); Team Flamingo Red Hatters (Christine Blackett);  OHOP Grange (Ruth Nelson); Isabelle's Angels (Georgianne Crouchet); EHS Walkers (Jeri Burgess); Cancer Jumpers (Lacey Meadows, Shelby); Arrow Lumber (Steve Putney); Team MBS (Tiffiny Atkins); Rolling Rockstars (Cassidy Wisely-Paul); Good Sam Clinic (Dr. Elizabeth Neuhalfen).
      Team Development Chair Roger Andrascik is aiming for 25 to 30 teams. There are still some vacancies on the 2008 planning committee. If you want to help with this vital cause please contact Karen Woodcock, Event Chair email karenw@frugal.com phone 253.307.9288 or got to www.rfleatonville.org. 
      The first Team Captains meeting will be Thursday. March 6.
      To see how the American Cancer Society distributes funds raised and learn which teams have captains and where captains are needed please see below.