Cancer relay coming to island

The Relay for Life will be held July 29-30 at the high school.

Cancer never rests, and for one night this summer, neither will Bainbridge Island.

The American Cancer Society will host the island’s first-ever Relay for Life event July 29-30 at Bainbridge High School’s Memorial Stadium.

It’s a quick start-up for a fund-raising event popular in communities nationwide, but only proposed for Bainbridge in March.

An organizational meeting held at the Commons turned up a group of islanders eager to bring the relay to the island, said Leslie Jones, media relations manager for the American Cancer Society’s Tacoma office.

“I think that we’re not surprised,” Jones said. “We’re so very excited, and Bainbridge is such an awesome community...I think it’s going to be very successful.”

In the round-the-clock Relay for Life event, participating “teams” walk or run laps around the high school track, keeping at least one team member on the track at all times – even overnight – “because cancer never sleeps.”

Cancer victims past and present are honored, musicians provide entertainment and local vendors offer food in a community campout atmosphere.

Sponsorships and donations raise funds for the American Cancer Society’s research and other programs.

The Bainbridge event will run from 4 p.m. July 29 through 10 a.m. July 30 at Memorial Stadium.

Local organizers are Dawna Kramer (raddjk@yahoo.com) and Mary Clipsham (mtb566@msn.com, 780-0714). They’re looking for local and corporate sponsors; individuals and teams from island businesses, neighborhoods and community groups; and performers and vendors.

“There’s a place for absolutely anybody at the relay,” Jones said.

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