Relay For Life of Ritzville raises $19,000

The Relay For Life of Ritzville committee will meet Monday, Aug. 22, at 6 p.m. at Best Western Bronco Inn to wrap up this year’s event.

Committee members and team captains need to attend. Agenda items include discussion of this year’s event, suggestions/comments received and the 2012 event.

In addition, total amounts raised by each team will be announced.

Anyone who is interested in joining the 2012 committee is encouraged attend the Aug. 22 meeting.

Preliminary calculations indicate that fifth annual Relay For Life of Ritzville on Aug. 12-13 raised a gross of $19,735 for cancer research and patient services.

Once again, participation was reduced from previous years. About 139 people participated, split into 13 teams.

The teams represented area businesses, clubs and organizations as well as served as a tribute to someone who lost the battle to cancer and in support of someone with cancer.

As of Tuesday midday, team members of Connell Oil, Inc. are the top fundraisers with $2,573. Rebels with a Cause raised $2,168 while The Ritzville Adams County Journal’s team of Paper Guys & Dolls raised $2,076. Wheatland Bank’s $Dollar Diva$ had $1,559; The Life Savers (East Adams Rural Hospital) $1,255; Tana’s Posse $1,365; Family Traditions $1,045; Farmers Fighting Cancer $873; Wings for a Cure $820; Flatfoots for a Cure $462; Sterling Strutters (Sterling Savings Bank) $310; and Taco Del Mar $95.

One of the highlights of Relay For Life events is the Luminaria Ceremony, where bags are lit in support or in honor of those fighting cancer. This year’s Luminaria Ceremony included a total of 212 names.

The committee used canned food items as weight in the luminary bags for donation to the Ritzville Food Pantry.

As midnight approached, the infamous “Miss”Ter Relay Contest returned to center stage on Aug. 12.

The 2011 “Miss”Ter Relay Contest featured seven entries, including: Tony Hunt as Regina Simmons for Wings for a Cure; Jacob Bouvette as Just Janice for Sterling Strutters; Aaron Ireland as Shayana Star for Life Care Center of Ritzville; Michael Fode as Ravishing Roxy Rebel for Rebels for a Cause; Mike Hawks as Cell Block Sallie for Flatfoots for a Cure; Alex Knapp as She-za-he for the $Dollar Diva$; and Travis Ste. Marie as Bleached Betty for Taco Del Mar.

Hunt captured the crown as “Miss”Ter Relay with donations totaling $501.70. Just Janice was the first runner up with $303.46 followed by Shayana Star with $287.83.

At the morning awards ceremony, teams and individuals were recognized in an array of categories. Wheatland Bank’s $Dollar Diva$ garnered the award for best decorated camp while Connell Oil, Inc. was named for most creative fundraiser of lap necklaces and beads.

Life Care Center of Ritzville earned the title of best team spirit for two young ladies who danced and cheered all night long.

Spencer Miller from Family Traditions was recognized as the best bed head. Rodney Main earned recognition as the person who went above and beyond for working on all aspects of Relay – entertainment, logistics, set up, tear down, gave blood, announcements and security.

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Ritzville was made possible by Ritzville School District, Ritzville Adams County Journal, Ritzville Warehouse/Odessa Trading Company/Ag Tech Services/Trimble;

Life Care Center of Ritzville, B&D Saunders Farm, Ritzville Computer & Internet, Leslie Adams, Connell Oil, Inc., East Adams Rural Hospital, K-3 Ranch, Jake’s Texaco/Jake’s Café, Sterling Savings Bank, Washtucna-Benge-Hooper Lions Club, Big Bend Electric Cooperative, L & M Ensor and The McGregor Company.