During separate city council meetings in both Centralia and Chehalis earlier this month, Patty Allee of Lewis County Relay for Life spoke during public comments to propose a bit of friendly competition between the Twin Cities to see which could raise the most money ahead of the 2024 Relay for Life on Saturday, May 18.
“I’ve been involved in Relay for Life since I came to Lewis County back in the early ’70s,” Allee said at the Chehalis City Council meeting on Jan. 23.
The reason for suggesting the competition is to create more local public support for Relay for Life, Allee stated.
“People have fought cancer long enough, and our cancer survivors are why we relay,” Allee said.
She added the organization is still struggling to return donations to pre-COVID shutdown levels, and the first year back they only raised $10,000, which was “a drop in the bucket compared to what we had raised before.”
It has been slowly rising since then, though, as Allee told Chehalis City Councilors that in 2023 they had set a goal of raising $30,000 during the Relay for Life and had raised more than $47,000.
“This year our goal is $52,000. We’re hoping to get to $65,000 or $70,000,” Allee said.
During the Centralia City Council meeting on Jan. 9, Allee told the councilors last year Washington state was projected to have more than 44,000 cancer diagnoses.
“We need community support,” Allee said at the Centralia City Council meeting on Jan. 9. “... What I’m asking for is a challenge, between the City of Centralia and City of Chehalis city councils, to raise some money. I don’t care if you raise $100 or $50, but just that challenge that says, ‘Hey community, we have our cities supporting us.’ ”
To learn how to get involved with Lewis County Relay for Life, visit https://www.facebook.com/relayforlifeoflewiscountywa, or call Allee at 360-827-2312 for more information.
Those interested in donating to Lewis County Relay for Life or registering for the relay can visit relayforlife.org/lewiscountywa.
The relay itself will be held at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds, located at 1909 S. Gold St. in Centralia, beginning at 10 a.m. on May 18.
“Out of every dollar, 73 cents goes to research and funding for different programs the American Cancer Society has,” Allee said on Jan. 23. “The other 27 cents goes back to Road to Recovery Hope Lodge.”
Allee also encouraged members of both city councils to participate in the Lewis County Relay for Life if possible.
Relay for Life is an American Cancer Society program and is a nationwide event bringing together communities to celebrate cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost to cancer and raise money to help those currently fighting cancer.
For more information, visit https://www.cancer.org/involved/fundraise/relay-for-life.html.
