With a decent turnout and 42 teams walking, fundraising and participating this past Friday and Saturday, the Grays Harbor Relay For Life event is nearing its fundraising goal.
Following this weekend’s event, it has so far generated $141,516 of the $150,000 goal. Even though the walk is over, people can still donate to the total before the Aug. 31 deadline when a final total is calculated.
The Relay, which raises money for the American Cancer Society, brings together hundreds of people, many of whom know a cancer survivor or have lost a loved one to cancer, to walk around the track at Hoquiam High School as part of a 24-hour event. The various participants raffle off goods and fundraise throughout the year to help fund research.
For the second straight year, Team Bob is the top-earning group from the Relay, raising a total of $30,367. Jenny’s Joggers/Tom’s Trotters is second, raising $14,454, and Great Northwest Federal Credit Union is third with $12,646.
Some of the individual fundraising leaders were Bob Muhlhauser, who raised $25,827 of Team Bob’s total, and Lisa Poisso, who raised $2,522.
Angie Coulter, who serves as the American Cancer Society’s community development manager for the event on Grays Harbor, said she thinks the turnout was bigger than last year’s, especially in terms of survivors. Each year, cancer survivors get to walk the first lap around the track by themselves as a way to honor them, and those who do get a medal for participating. Coulter said there were more than 200 medals given out this year, a jump up from 2017.
But some participants at the event said overall attendance has been waning in recent years.
“I remember back when you couldn’t even get a parking place,” said Fred Pellegrini from Jenny’s Joggers/Tom’s Trotters at the event on Friday.
Pellegrini said he believes the closure of notable employers in the area, such as Grays Harbor Paper is partially why the Relay has a smaller turnout than it did in the 1990s.
“It’s a worthy cause. But like I said, with the economic conditions on the Harbor, the attendance has dropped tremendously,” he said.
Coulter said she’s noticed Relay events nationwide having shrinking attendance numbers, and that she feels the event doesn’t bring the excitement it once did.
“Across the country, Relays have gone down,” said Coulter. “It used to be the new, fun event, and it has lost some of its oomph. It’s up to us at the American Cancer Society to focus on new ways to raise funds, maybe be a little more innovative and think of new ways to get more folks involved.”
Coulter added that there are several spots open now for the Relay’s leadership team. The two main organizers for the event, Debi Luther and Jenny House, are stepping down from their roles after two years running the event. Also not returning next year is the event’s finance manager Linda Francisco.
All three spots are currently open, and Coulter said those interested in applying to run 2019’s event can contact her by phone at 360-580-9694.
“We need leadership and folks who are good at accounting,” said Coulter.
LOUIS KRAUSS | THE DAILY WORLD Cancer survivors prepare to walk the first lap around the track at Hoquiam High School on Friday as part of the Relay For Life.
