8/4/2019 Relay for Life Kaleidescope July 20,2011

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The 15th annual Relay for Life ofthe Columbia Gorge started andended with rain, but in betweenthere was plenty of opportunity towalk, play and raise money for theAmerican Cancer Society.

Early estimates on the amount

raised were in the vicinity of$80,000; lower than last years$114,000, but team developmentchair Veronica Moline said thisyears long, wet spring hamperedthe usual pre-Relay fundraisingevents such as car washes andother typical efforts. Event co-chairKathie Alley agreed.

Our minds were two months be-hind, she said. It felt like March;it didnt seem like it was already

time for Relay.This year there were 30 teams

200 people signed up to walk thewalk for cancer research. Eachteam was encouraged to decorateits campsite in this years theme,Seasons of Hope, and come up

with some creative fundraising ac-tivity to raise even more money.

In addition to such traditional fa-vorite events such as Mr. Relay,haircutting and the ice cream so-cial, there were some new eventsthis year: Zumba dancing, led byCurves for Women, and a wet T-shirt contest family-friendly, ofcourse.

The T-shirts were soaking in aninflatable pool full of water, and

contestants raced to see who couldput the greatest number of wetshirtson over their clothes in abouta minutes time which was moredifficult than you might think.

Though there is plenty of fun tobe had at Relay, the underlying

mood is sober, because many, if notmost, of the participants are eithersurvivors of cancer or survivors ofthose lost to cancer. The event iskicked off by a Survivor Walk, toremind everyone of the reason forRelay: To raise money to help find acure for the disease.

During the opening ceremonies,Jennifer Ringlbauer recounted herexperience fighting tongue cancer,of which she is an 11-month sur-vivor.

When she first sought help forher difficulty swallowing, shethought she had a goiter and thatthere was nothing to worry about.

No matter how strong-willedyou are, your body will tell youwhen something is not right, she

said. Dont just pass it off; see yourdoctor. And if you do not thinkyoure getting the proper attention,get a second opinion.

Fortunately, my doctors havebeen wonderful and when I pooh-poohed my condition they pushedme into getting the proper tests,she said. Im enjoying life andvery thankful to be alive.

Though the Relay is over, dona-tions are still welcome and will beapplied to this years total up untilthe end of August, Alley said.

Of course, theyre welcome

after that, too; theyll just be ap-plied to the 2012 Relay, she said.

Donations may be made online atwww.RelayForLife.org/columbiagorgeor or mailed to Kathie Alley at2658 Reed Road, Hood River, OR97031.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011 B1

Inside: B2, Craig Danner columnI B3, HappeningsI B5, YesteryearsI B7, Classifieds

Seasons of Hope

Rain can

t dampen spirits at 2011 Relay For Life

Story and Photos by ESTHER K. SMITH

30 teams, 200people, $80,000

Early estimates for fundrais-ing efforts at this years eventare about $80,000. Listed below

are top fundraisers and spon-sors.

Big money raisers:Top 3 teams1. One step At A Time2. Team Rosauers3. Team Tamura

Top 4 individuals(Each raised more than$1,000)1. Kelly Wallis2. Veronica Moline3. Terry Joyer4. Frances HenneRelay sponsors: Hood

River Valley High School,WyEast Laboratories, HoodRiver County Fair, ProvidenceHood River Memorial Hospi-

tal, Hood River News, CeliloCancer Center, Juanitas FineFoods, Ring Kings, Rosauers,CenturyLink, Turtle IslandFoods, Rotary International ofHood River and Farmers In-surance.

Activity sponsors: A KidzDental Zone, CM Consulting,Cascade Travel, CenterPointeCommunity Bank, ColumbiaState Bank, Don NunamakerRealtors, Dutch Bros Coffee,Gorge.net, Pacific NW FederalCredit Union and Print It! SignMedia

In-kind donors: ActiveFoods, Andrews Pizza, Bi-Coastal Media-KIHR, Colum-bia Gorge Community College,

Columbia Gorge Magazine,Don Moore & Chuck Wal-ston/Grills To Go, Franz Bak-ery, Frito-Lay, Gorge Guide,H2Oregon, Hood River CountyChamber of Commerce, Mt.Adams Chamber of Com-merce, Skamania County, Ska-mania Pioneer, Subway andWhite Salmon Enterprise

Special thanks to: Chubys,City of Cascade Locks, CrazyPepper, Dakine, Duckwall Poo-ley Fruit Packers, Full Sail,John Deere, KeyBank, McDon-alds, Sheppards Supply, Ska-mania Newspaper, The GiftHouse and Waucoma Book-store

CANCER SURVIVORS (top photo) kickoff the 2011 Relay for Life with the Sur-vivor Walk; Mr. Relay contestants in-

clude (from left, second photo from top)Bryan Mears, Bob Miller, Dean Reeves,Greg Clark and Max Lane (not shown:Tony White, Ryan Maxwell, Stephan Pe-terson, Nicolas Cooper and John Nigl).Clockwise from above: Terry Joyer cele-brates life; stylist Heidi Frederick showsKristina Calderon her lopped-off locks;Survivor Walk; and the family-friendlywet T-shirt contest.