Supporters, Survivors Rally at Relay for Life

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More than 44 teams set up tents at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds Friday afternoon to participate in the 2013 Relay for Life of Lewis County, which is scheduled to continue through 4 p.m. today. 

Faye Mullins, of Onalaska, started a team last year with her family and friends called the “Jarvis Juggernauts,” and the team came out for the relay again this year.

Mullins and her husband both lost their mothers to cancer in 2011. 

Mullins spent Friday afternoon raffling off items from her tent to raise money for Relay for Life.  She said the survivor lap and the Chinese floating lanterns, which are new to the walk this year, are her favorite parts of the event. 

“It’s pretty emotional,” Mullins said. 

Relay for Life is hoping to raise $135,000 at this year’s event. 



This year’s relay was the first one at the fairgrounds after being held at Stan Hedwall Park in Chehalis, which Mullins said gives patients more room and accessibility. 

“It was hard for people in wheelchairs,” Mullins said of Stan Hedwall Park last year.  

Osborn Cancer Care, which has an office on Bishop Road in Chehalis, also set up a team this year called “Team Jamie,” in honor of a nurse’s son, Jamie Settle, of Shelton, who is battling cancer. 

“Team Jamie” member Maryann Albenesius, of Winlock, who works in oncology at Osborn Cancer Care, said this year is her first time at the event, but she is familiar with the impacts of cancer from working in oncology since 1985. 

“Nobody is immune unfortunately,” Albenesius said.