Relay for Life

By LAURA BEHENNA

Bigfork Eagle

Bigfork’s third annual Relay for Life has been scheduled for July 20, and organizer Diane Kautzman wants everyone in town to know about it.

“It’s all about having a great time and raising money to find a cure for breast cancer,” Kautzman said Friday. Everyone’s life has been touched by breast cancer in some way, she added.

The event kick-off will happen Wednesday, May 23, from 5 to 6 p.m. in the Flathead Bank parking lot at the corner of Grand Avenue and Hwy. 35 in Bigfork.

“It’s a chance to have a little party, meet some of the people you might be working with and build excitement,” Kautzman said. People can also sign up for teams and learn more about Relay for Life at the kick-off.

The July 20 Relay for Life event will start at 5 p.m. with a reception for all cancer survivors in the Survivors’ Tent at the school football field. The relay begins at 6 p.m., with survivors walking the first lap around the track. Then members of all the walking teams will take turns circling the field all night until Saturday morning around 8 a.m. Breakfast will be served at 6 a.m.

There will be plenty of play to go with the work. Activities are still being arranged, but Kautzman said there will be a restaurant potluck dinner, live music, games, pizza at midnight, massages, yoga, face-painting and more.

“We do things all night long to keep people entertained,” she said.

Volunteer walkers, helpers and donors are needed to make the event a success.

“We’re looking for people who want to work and corporate sponsors,” Kautzman said. “There’s nothing that wouldn’t help.” Anyone can get involved, she emphasized.

This year the organizers have set a goal of recruiting 35 teams that will raise $85,000 toward research leading toward curing breast cancer. The group hopes to have 120 survivors participate, Kautzman said.

Prizes will be awarded to teams that raise the most money, and raffle ticket prizes donated so far include two pieces of original artwork, gift baskets, a variety of services and gift certificates to restaurants, Kautzman said. More prize donations are welcome, of course. The raffle drawing will be held on Saturday morning, July 21.

The theme of this year’s Relay for Life will be “Movies” of all kinds. Teams are encouraged to decorate their tents like any movie they like.

Relay for Life organizational meetings take place at 5 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at the Flathead Holding Company on the second floor of Osborne Landing. Everyone is welcome to attend.

“It’s probably one of the most wonderful things I’ve ever done,” Kautzman said of Relay for Life. “I really feel honored to be part of it.”

For more information or to volunteer, call Diane Kautzman at 837-1622 or e-mail dkautzman@flatheadbank.com. To start or join a team, call team development chair Jolene Bradstreet at 837-1600. To donate, call Kathleen Wagner, on-line fundraising chair, at 837-7601.