relay for life recap

Yesterday morning I tried to get my thoughts about Washington's American Cancer Society Relay For Life event down on paper(okay, okay - down in an email). I wanted to email the "higher ups" in the organization about the Relay and why it was so successful this year, instead of having them pull a report to see what our projected income would be.

Here's what I wrote - I do no justice to the event.

Good Morning!

I am sure by now, some of you have pulled a report to check out this weekend's Relay numbers and know of the huge success in Washington County, but I thought I would try to get some words down to truly convey to you just how amazing Washington County is. These words will not even come close, though, so please multiple their effect by about a million...


Over two years ago, Karen V.O. and the RFL committee set a goal of raising $100,000 for their 10th Relay. A pretty lofty goal for a smaller county, but the committee kept their eyes on the prize (so to speak) and did what they could to try to achieve this goal. As a staff partner, I of course encouraged them to go for this goal, but wasn't too sure they would meet it, for in FY09 they raised about $72,000.


Their success began in January when a very passionate volunteer, Angie V.G., set the precedent for all Coaches v. Cancer events in the state, raising over $8,000 at a boys and girls basketball double header. This then ballooned to many other athletic events in the county and students, parents and booster clubs raised approx. $16,000 to support the Relay.


$16,000? We can work with that! However, I thought that since parents gave to this event, they might not dig as deep when it came time for Relay and I was apprehensive to up my projected income...


Boy, was I ever wrong. This past weekend, the community came together. They came together to honor and remember. They came together to fight back against "stupid cancer" and to tell it to take a hike, because they, Washington County, were sick of it. They were sick of it making their kids sick - kids who looked cancer in the face and told it, "I don't think so, stupid cancer. You are not going to hurt me!" They were sick of it taking their loved ones. But event through all the loss and hardship, cancer did not scare Washington County. Cancer made Washington County fight harder.


And fight they did. The team captains, members, businesses and residents of Washington County came together to raise over $125,000 on Saturday. They blew their $100,000 goal out of the water and gave cancer a clear sigh that they were not going to back down. Because of Washington County, we are a huge step closer to finding a cure.


Sadly, Karen V.O., was not there to see her and the committee's goal achieved. Karen passed away a few months ago after a lengthy battle with cancer. But her spirit was with everyone on Saturday, and their thoughts were with her.


These are just my words, and they do Washington County and their Relay no justice. I am sure sure anyone slept after the Relay because of the huge high I am sure they were on.


Here are a few photos from the event. 

My state director and the mayor

Kids from the "WE Team" who raised over $500 just singing Happy Birthday to people at the event. They started off asking for 25 cents and ended the night raising $100 for each performance!