My neighbors across the street and their church are very active in the fight against cancer. The Relay Walk was held last night at our Colville city park between 5 pm and 12 am. People were welcome to come out, walk as much as they want, listen to music and hear stories from survivors and caretakers.
The evening starts with the band playing bagpipes, opening our walk around the park, just for the survivors. This and many other Relay For Life walks is sponsored by the American Cancer Society.
As a cancer survivor, I get a free tee shirt. As usual, I ask for XXX just out of habit. It looks like someone threw a duffle bag on me. Anyone familiar with Donna will, of course, notice the "MOON".
Here I am with other survivors doing our opening lap. After that initial walk, we were treated to a free dinner of chicken tacos and cookies.
This is my neighbor's booth at the relay. Becky is waving and Bill was off somewhere, probably walking. They got me involved the first year while Donna was doing chemo treatment in Spokane...now I do it in her honor.
This not just a gratuitous photo of Donna's granddaughter, who's middle name is Moon, but when I look at this photo I see so much of Donna in the laugh and smile.
You'd think in this little "podunk" town that country and western music would be all the rage...nope. All night the Sons Of Sasquatch played Jimi Hendrix, Ozzy Osbourne, Motown and much more.
One way to raise money for the fight against cancer are these bags. You pay $5, plus one can of food (to hold it down and then donated) and you get to decorate it weeks before if you want. My girlfriend (Carla, in case anyone is late to the game) helped me decorate the bags...so if you see good penmanship, you will know it's not I!. I purchased 15 bags and 15 cans of food for the three strong women in my life that have succumbed to the dreadful , big C!
(Kleenex please)
After dark, they turn on a small electric light left in each bag and call the ceremony the "luminary". It's pretty obvious that I did not decorate this bag!
Far too many lighted bags showed us the way around the park. I said earlier that "three" strong women guided me on life's path.
My mother, of course, tried like the dickens to mold me into a worthwhile human being.
Donna...who accomplished what my mother failed to do.
Donna's mother Wilma...who died way before I met Donna, but without her...there would be no Donna, nor "me".
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