Cancer is a theif of life, health

As the names of my parents, Bill and Edie Hall, were read during the luminary ceremony my eyes welled with tears of remembrance. Through those tears the full moon that had just risen over Mt. Harding appeared to be a giant heart glowing with love and hope. It had been an emotional evening--a reunion of sorts--as I found many of the faces at the Mission Valley Relay for Life to be familiar. All had been touched in some way by cancer.

Pancreatic cancer, which took the life of my mother also stole Kim Palmer’s husband, David. Kim, her grandchildren, Olivia and Billy, as well as other family members were at the event not only to honor David, but also in support of Kim’s sister, Terry McDonald, who is presently fighting breast cancer. Terry, who now resides in Missoula, was also present and it was encouraging to see my former classmate and basketball teammate facing the battle with such strength and humor.

Hundreds of other residents from throughout the Mission Valley were also there to remember and support their loved ones. This year marked the 18th year the Relay for Life has been held in the Mission Valley as fifteen teams walked, danced, ran, and wheeled around the Ronan High School track joining 3.5 million people worldwide participating in this year’s American Cancer Society Relays for Life.

The 13-hour event began with a delicious buffet style dinner for survivors and their caregivers catered by Cheri Houle of Cheri’s Kitchen Catering. After dinner, the Hell Roarin’ Detachment #1041 of the Marine Corps League presented the Colors and the sense of community was palpable as the entire assemblage joined in singing the National Anthem. The cancer survivors then made their way out to the track through a boisterous ovation to kick off the relay with the survivor’s lap. The survivors were then joined by their energetic and enthusiastic caregivers for lap two which was followed by a grand entry lap presenting the relay teams in their themed attire. The largest contingent was ‘Team Irish for the Cure’ whose members were decked out in Kelley green T-shirts and even some kilts. The team from the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Polson created a race within a race as they donned race car costumes and made a mad dash for the checkered flag. The St. Luke Community Health Care team came out swinging with blue balloon boxing gloves ready to hit cancer with a knock out punch.

Members from the teams continued to walk throughout the night while various activities went on. One such activity was a cake auction. The mouth watering cakes, baked and decorated by the teams, brought in $1,490 dollars. Karen Dellwo of the First Interstate team went head to head with Liana Clairmont of the St. Lukes’s team before finally anteing up the top bid of the night, $500, which bought the St. Luke Community Health Care cake.

Her bid was made on behalf of an anonymous donor to honor Marie Mahugh, one of this year’s scheduled Grand Marshalls who is currently undergoing treatments and could not attend the event.

At twilight the stadium lights were turned on to illuminate the field while the luminaries were set and then were extinguished to create an atmosphere of solemnity for the reading of the luminary honorees. The names of all the cancer heros--survivors as well as those who lost their valiant fights numbered well over 500. Among them, a few whom I will hold in my heart are Patsy Anderson, my fourth grade teacher, Bill “Arkie” Fuque, a big man with a big heart and Tom Siebert, a classmate who continued wrestling for the Ronan Chiefs even after losing a leg to cancer. Additionally I know others join me in saluting Ann Fleming, Terry McDonald and many other community friends as they boldly wage war on the cancer foe that snuck up on them.