Cancer Relay Rocked by Walmart
The store manager at the Ponderay Walmart actually took cashiers off the registers and sent them over to the Bonner County Fairgrounds in the wee hours of the morning to help raise over $30,000 dollars at the annual Cancer Relay for Life. Just goes to show that where there’s a “Wil” there is a way! I had a blast playing 
music and visiting with the relay walkers. The Johnson Sisters were fun and dressed in lifesaver colors! The big secret is that they are not all sisters but we had some fun by making their parents come up and sing with them and I will post that video to youtube this week.
The bell ringers were back and they are simply the most beautiful musicians and music to background the reading of the names. The Celtic dancers, the 1:30 a.m. dance lessons, Carolyn Gleason (5th Avenue Pizza) made me an outstanding adult snow cone (wink wink), C-21 provided a much needed and delicious breakfast, and of course CAL (Community Assistance League) had their delicious lineup of homemade soups. Johnny Lawson and the Pack River/Lightening Creek Band was fantastic and earned tons of compliments. Johnny returned at daybreak to sing a couple songs he wrote
especially for the Relay. What an incredible man and talent who has a heart as big as his Mom’s who was a Sandpoint icon and hosted many community fundraisers for those with unexpected needs.
From the opening prayer to the closing ceremony it was an event that connects a community in a simple yet profound way. There are so many poignant and inspirational stories from many families crammed into the collective hearts of the participants that if each one formed a shape the main exhibit hall could not hold them all. I will encourage you once again to make plans now to participate next year. It’s not just the funds that are raised that is important. It is the sharing, emotional bonding, and the realization that we are all connected in ways we are just discovering. My thoughts were with Jenny Meyer’s family, husband, and daughter Grace. The annual Cancer Relay for Life seems to bring on many thoughts of grace and to me that is just amazing . I applaud you all for your individual and team efforts. When you ran out of energy - you ran on love. You are wonderful, one and all.
