Relay For Life of Ritzville raises $31,000

Nearly 100 community members walked side-by-side last Friday evening and into the early hours of the morning on Saturday to stand united in the fight against cancer. Together, the 99 registered participants spread throughout nine teams helped to raise an impressive $31,815.

Participation numbers were again reduced compared to previous years, but the amount of money raised this year tops the past two years’ amounts. The preliminary results show an impressive amount of money collected by all nine teams and a generous donation that helped the group surpass their fundraising goal.

As of Tuesday, the preliminary reports on the Relay For Life of Ritzville website show the top fundraising team is the Inky Dinks, from the Ritzville Adams County Journal, with $3,662.46. The second place fundraising team is Connell Oil Inc., with $1,590.25. The Dollar Divas (Wheatland Bank) earned an impressive $1,534.67 for the third place fundraising team. Tana’s Posse was the next top earning team with $1,190, closely followed by the Ritzville Parts House/NAPA team with $1,163. The Live Savers team from East Adams Rural Hospital brought in $1,113.54; What Ever It Takes (Life Care Center of Ritzville) raised $862.10; Flatfoots for a Cure earned $736.75; and the Sterling Strutters (Sterling Bank) brought in $458.

The top three fundraising individuals are, Jennifer Verhey with $255 from Flatfoots for a Cure, Becky Haase with $250 for the Sterling Strutters team, and Kevin Swartz with $236 from the Flatfoots for a Cure team.

During the nighttime hours on Friday, July 13, the Relay participants enjoyed live music provided by local artists Garrett Bartley, Mark Hickey and Ben Malby.

After four hours of walking, all those in attendance gathered together for the luminaria ceremony to remember and honor individuals who have battled cancer. The word “hope” was created using luminary bags and as participants walked their lap in silence, the word was changed to “cure.”

Luminary bags surrounded the track, creating light for the walkers as the field lights were turned off for the ceremony. An estimated 250 luminary bags were lit in remembrance or honor of those who have had cancer.

The teams continued walking until 11:30 p.m. when the infamous “Miss”ter Relay event began and four fierce competitors took to the track to strut their stuff. Competitors were Jeff Snider as Inga from the Ritzville Parts House/NAPA team; Layne Hawks as Cell Block Sally representing the Flatfoots for a Cure; from What Ever It Takes was Aaron Ireland as Katina Mopipa Scolita; and Michael Fode as Anatasia from the Sterling Strutters.

The competitors participated in an interview in front of all in attendance where they had an opportunity to showcase their personality and talent as a cheerleader. After the interviews, they had 30 minutes to solicit donations from other Relay participants.

The four contestants returned successful and together raised $1,446.91 for the Relay event. Anatasia received the highest amount of donations, bringing in $713.25 single handedly. Katina Mopipa Scolita was the runner up with $426.74.

After the excitement and amusement of the “Miss”ter Relay competition, walkers continued to circle the track. When the early hours of Saturday morning approached, the activities and games began.

Dale Anderson took center stage at 2 a.m. to begin an intense game of bingo, which lasted until 3 a.m. Relay participants walked the track, bingo cards in hand, as Anderson kept the crowd energized with the game.

At 3 a.m., the Connell Oil, Inc. team started poker laps, having each participant walk a lap in order to receive a card to eventually play as their poker hand. At the conclusion of five laps, the participants turned in their cards and the individual with the best hand received a prize. The American Cancer Society provided all prizes awarded at the event.

Relay participants walked the track the entire night as team members took turns walking and sleeping during the early hours. As the sun came up, the Washtucna-Benge-Hooper Lions Club provided breakfast to rejuvenate the overnight walkers.

During the closing ceremony, the sponsors who helped make the Relay For Life of Ritzville event possible were recognized. Sponsors for the 2012 event are Ann and John Anderson, the Ritzville School District, Ritzville Warehouse Co./Odessa Trading Company, The Journal, Best Western Plus, Life Care Center of Ritzville, Sterling Bank, Ritzville Parts House/NAPA, K-3 Ranch, East Adams Rural Hospital, Connell Oil Inc., and the Washtucna-Benge-Hoopers Lions Club.

This year, instead of giving a team spirit award, three spirit awards were presented to individuals. Recipients of the spirit awards were Irma Kent, Darlene Glenn and Kiefer Niezwaag.

The annual wrap-up meeting for Relay For Life of Ritzville is scheduled for Monday, July 23 at 6 p.m. at the Best Western Bronco Inn for committee members and team captains. Agenda items for the meeting are discussion this year’s event, handing out awards, and determining plans for the next Relay.

Any individuals who participated in Relay are invited to attend, as are any individuals who are interested in becoming part of next year’s Relay committee.

For more information about the Relay For Life of Ritzville event, visit the website http://www.relayforlife.org/ritzvillewa.