by Mariah Acuff

We all have a story…

Local Sea-Tac resident Trevor Larson has a family history of melanoma. Unfortunately, his mother, aunts, and cousins have all been diagnosed with it in the past making it a risk Trevor will always have to be watchful over, especially considering his occupation as a lifeguard. Yet even with that knowledge, Trevor’s close call with cancer at merely 17 years old was something that would have shocked anyone. After noticing three moles that appeared suspicious, Trevor’s parents decided it was a good idea to take him to the dermatologist where it was then recommended that the moles be removed immediately.

“It’s hard to ignore the possibility that you could have a life threatening disease, but you have to put that behind you and keep on living.” Larson said.

Thankfully, the moles had not yet developed into skin cancer, however Trevor’s scare was a great example of how truly unbiased cancer is about whom it may chose to attack. Larson was lucky, but every year there are countless other children – some are infants or some are seniors in high school just like Trevor – who must face this fight for their lives everyday.

With wise words, Larson reflects on his situation by saying, “Regardless of what you have or what happens to you in life, you can’t change what’s happened but you can change the present and how you’re dealing with the situation.”

This is why he fights.
Why do you?

The annual Highline Relay for Life will be held at the Mt. Rainier High School Track, located at 22450 19th Ave South in Des Moines, the weekend of June 11 – 12, with the main event running from 3pm Saturday until 8am Sunday,

For more information, visit their website here: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=33977

EDITOR’S NOTE: Mariah Acuff is a Senior at Mount Rainier High School. She is also serving on the Publicity Committee for the Highline Relay for Life.

by Mariah Acuff

It was sophomore year when one of her teachers was diagnosed with cancer.

Highline Relay-er, Paloma Pirotte hadn’t known him for long, but his impact on not only her, his students, and the school was instantly clear. As only the greatest teachers do, he bonded with his students closely becoming a part of the family and a friend, as opposed to simply a person students saw for an hour each day.

“He was like a grandpa figure to me, wise and happy,” stated Pirotte in summary of who this man was in her eyes.

His journey towards fighting cancer unfortunately caused this “grandpa figure” to take months off from teaching, which one could say was a time of great fear and sadness among students and faculty alike. Yet above all, there was hope. Thankfully today, almost two years later, this man has returned to the school where he is deeply loved and appreciated and can be seen everyday greeting his students as they enter his classroom.

When asked what her personal experience with cancer has taught her, Pirotte stated, “I have learned that cancer is real, and one second you are fine, but the next your life has completely changed along with your perspective on how you live it.”

This is why she fights.

Why do you?

The annual Highline Relay for Life will be held at the Mt. Rainier High School Track, located at 22450 19th Ave South in Des Moines, the weekend of June 11 – 12, with the main event running from 3pm Saturday until 8am Sunday,

For more information, visit their website here: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=33977

EDITOR’S NOTE: Mariah Acuff is a Senior at Mount Rainier High School. She is also serving on the Publicity Committee for the Highline Relay for Life.

A group of teens dedicated to fundraising for the cancer-fighting Relay For Life will be hosting a play to raise money while acting, with auditions set for this Sunday, Dec. 12th from 12:30pm – 6:30pm.

This play will be put on as a fundraiser for the Highline Relay for Life, an annual fundraiser against cancer that happens every Spring at Highline Memorial Stadium (read our previous coverage here).

Anyone is invited to audition for this production of the Shakespeare classic, which is projected to be produced in April, 2011. Audition spots will close this Friday, Dec. 11 at 7pm, so if you are hoping to join please reply to the email below ASAP.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Auditions for roles in a fundraiser production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 12th from 12:30pm – 6:30pm.

WHERE: Location TBD; email Brandi at cruizin4thecure@yahoo.com for more info.

INFO: From a Facebook Event Page:

What we are hoping for is that we can gather people from our community (preferably young adults and teens) so that we may be able to perform the play A Midsummer Nights Dream written by William Shakespeare. We are hoping to have the play ready by April. We will be holding “auditions” (and yes i use that word loosely)… on December 12. Audition spots will close on Dec. 11 at 7pm, so if you are hoping to join please post here so that we know and can schedule you in.

It has yet to be decided on which version we will be doing. Either the old Shakespeare or the new day version. That will be something for the cast (When appointed) to decide.

Director: Brandi Reints

Stage Manager:

Roles:

• Philostrate
• Robin Goodfellow (Puck)
• Peter Quince
• Oberon
• Peaseblossom
• Titania
• Tom Snout
• Theseus
• Robin Starveling
• Snug
• Nick Bottom
• Francis Flute
• Helena
• Egeus
• Cobweb
• Demetrius
• Moth
• Mustardseed
• Lysander
• Hermia
• Hippolyta

Stage Hands (this includes positions of ticket sales other not on stage help):

• Jherica
• Blaine Chadwick

We ask that when you show for an audition, that you have a two minute monologue memorized. We hope that you will understand when you audition, we will not only be looking at memorization, but also characterization, and feeling. When we perform this play, it will be looked on as professional due to the fact that our viewers will be paying for their tickets, BUT DO UNDERSTAND THAT WE DO NOT EXPECT PROFESSIONAL ACTORS HERE. We hope that once we set up auditions, that you will be one of the amazing people to try out. (Most of those that audition will probably be given a part, but no matter what role you get weather it be an actor or a stage hand, we expect that you show up for all the rehearsals, and are serious because of the fact that this is a fundraiser for an amazing cause) THANK YOU.

- Brandi Reints

If you have any questions please contact Brandi @ text/call (206) 271 5661 or e-mail cruizin4thecure@yahoo.com.

More information on the Highline Relay for Life is available here.

Last weekend, dozens of dedicated volunteers showed up at Burien’s Highline Memorial Stadium to participate in the American Cancer Society’s annual Highline Relay for Life, a two-day event aimed at raising money to fight cancer.

Cancer survivors, family members, concerned residents, sponsors and more showed up on a sunny Saturday, with many camping out and spending the night with various events and entertainment to keep them busy.

According to the ACS website:

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. At Relay, teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events up to 24 hours in length.

Relay began in 1985 when Dr. Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon in Tacoma, Washington, ran and walked around a track for 24 hours to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Since then, Relay has grown from a single man’s passion to fight cancer into the world’s largest movement to end the disease. Each year, more than 3.5 million people in 5,000 communities in the United States, along with additional communities in 19 other countries, gather to take part in this global phenomenon and raise much-needed funds and awareness to save lives from cancer. Thanks to Relay participants, we are creating a world with more birthdays a world where cancer can’t claim another year of anyone’s life.

Here are some final stats, courtesy Kim Parks:

• 31 teams
• 415 registered  participants
• $60,666.45 raised so far, and more money is coming in.
• Top Team : $7,306.00 Cousins for a Cure team captain: Dena Reindel
• Top individual : $2,475.00 Anessa Mades
• Spirit Award: Team Sea-Tac ,Team Captain: Chris Peterson
• Best Decorated tent Site: Normandy Park Senior Living:, Team captain: Kim Parks

The top five fundraising teams included:

1. Cousins for a Cure
   ($6,320.00)
2. SEATTLE’S FINEST
   ($5,664.25)
3. Burien Good2Great
   ($3,814.00)
4. Freddy Fighters
   ($3,730.50)
5. Sea Hawkers South
   ($3,634.50)

The B-Town Blog was proud to be a sponsor, and Photographers Scott Schaefer and Michael Brunk showed up at different times to capture the following two slideshows:

Click to Play Scott Schaefer’s Slideshow

Click to Play Michael Brunk’s Slideshow

The Highline Relay for Life will launch this weekend at Highline Memorial Stadium in Burien, with 31 teams and 350 walkers planning on walking round the clock beginning at 3:30pm on Saturday until 10am on Sunday.

So far, these hard working teams have raised over $40,000 towards the fight against cancer.

King County Prosecutor (and area resident) Dan Satterberg will speak at the opening ceremony at 3pm Saturday, with the annual Survivor’s Walk starting at approximately 3:20pm.

New this year are three Evergreen High School teams and two Highline High School teams walking in popular teacher Robin Hoof’s memory. Ms. Hoof lost her battle with breast cancer last year. This from one of her students and team organizer:

“My name is Jaycen Sim and I am captain of one of the three “Hoof Prints” teams that are participating in the Relay for Life in honor of Robin Hoof! I am also president of the Hoof Prints student-led committee at the Health Sciences and Human Services High School, the school Ms. Hoof had taught French to for many years. The main goal of the group is to show love and support for Ms. Hoof and to help others remember her in a more positive way. Some of the things we’ve done are bringing Purple Tuesdays to the school where we all wear purple on the first Tuesday of every month, sell “Ms. Hoof” sweatshirts created in her memory, and hope to bring a plaque to the Evergreen campus as a memorial. As a way to not only show support for Ms. Hoof and the people around her but to other cancer patients and survivors we had decided we’d take part in and donate to the Relay for Life! Ms. Hoof was not only a great teacher to many students but also a great mentor, coach, and friend to everyone in her life and I know she’d be proud of the Hoof Prints committee’s members and all those that have given so much to help. We’ve organized a support group, our place in the Relay, fundraisers and donations and we hope to have helped in securing a place for our memories of Ms. Hoof in the community as well as our hearts.”

The Relay for Life kickoff is 3pm Saturday at Highline Memorial Stadium.

Also new this year is the “Seattle’s Finest” team, which consists of a group of Seattle Police Officers and their family members. They formed a team just one month ago and have so far raised $4,000.

This year participants have collected cans of food to weigh down the lighted Luminaries. According to local event organizer Kim Parks:

“In the past, the bags have been weighed down with sand and real candles. Last year we used battery operated candles and some cans of food. This year we have gone a step further and are asking everyone to bring cans of food (Normandy Park Senior Living has been collecting food for a few weeks). Rick Jump from the White Center Food Bank who will be at the closing ceremony to receive all the cans. It is all about giving back to the community. It also will add an extra celebration to our closing ceremony.”

2010 Relay for Life Sponsors include:

Platinum Level

• Highline Medical Center

Silver Level:

• Sal’s Deli
• Fred Meyer
• The B-Town Blog
• Robinson News
• Dennis Hansen, MD
• Northwest Ingredients
• Normandy Park Senior Living
• Lake Burien Physical Therapy

Bronze Level:

• Jim Coleman, DDS
• Highline Therapy Services
• Northwest Mobile Sound & Lighting

For more information on Highline’s fifth annual relay go to http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?fr_id=21855&pg=entry.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) will be holding its kick-off for the 5th Annual Relay For Life celebration Wednesday, Jan. 13th, from 6:30pm – 8pm, at Somers Auditorium in Highline Medical Center.

Last year, The B-Town Blog was proud to be a sponsor, and this year will be no different, as several members of our staff have been personally touched by cancer, and we’re committed to doing whatever we can to help defeat it.

This year’s event will be held June 12th & 13th at Highline Stadium.

Relay For Life was founded 26 years ago by Tacoma physician Dr. Gordy Klatt, and has grown to be the most recognized fundraising event for cancer nationwide, held in more than 5,000 communities and raising more than $3 billion toward cancer research, advocacy, education and patient services.

Over the past four years, the Relay For Life of Highline has brought over 600 people together from the cities of Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park and SeaTac participating on 86 teams, and raising over $272,000 total for the fight against cancer.

The Kickoff Celebration will provide information about Relay For Life and how volunteers can get involved in the fight against cancer. Attendees will enjoy food from Sal’s Deli, music, and coffee provided by Starbucks as they visit with volunteers, sharing stories of hope.

Relay For Life is a family-oriented event in which teams will walk or run in shifts around the track for 19 hours. Participants traditionally camp out on the field, and, when they are not taking their turn walking, enjoy a variety of entertainment activities.

The Relay For Life of Highline will be held on June 12th & 13th at Highline Stadium in Burien. For more information, please call Kelly Cochran at 206-674-4103, or visit www.relayforlife.org/highlinewa.

Here’s a slideshow by Photographer Michael Brunk of last summer’s event:

Click to View Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

Here’s a slideshow by Photographer Michael Brunk:

Click to View Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

by Sarah Slaughter
Team El Dorado Captain

Team El Dorado (a BTB Advertiser) will participate in their second Highline Relay tomorrow (Sat. June 13th) at Highline Field beginning with the Survivors Lap at 3pm. I am often asked why we choose to throw so much time and energy into this all-night event held each year on behalf of the American Cancer Society.

The simple answer is because cancer affects all of us at some point in our lives.

Prior to joining El Dorado West Retirement Community as their Executive Director, I spent much of my career in nursing. I remember my first dealings with the tragedy of cancer back in the early 90′s as a healthcare professional .

As a student in nursing school, I spent a few weeks of my clinical training on a med/surg unit in a Tacoma hospital. One of the RN’s who mentored me during this time was a 40-something, 6’6″-tall strapping man. He and I quickly developed a friendship and he became one of the more important teachers during my clinical experience.

I graduated from nursing school and immediately went to work for a Tacoma nursing home. Six months into my new nursing position, on the evening shift, I learned that we were receiving a new patient to my unit. As I prepared to go and meet him I noted the name was the same as that of my clinical mentor from a year ago. I proceeded to go into the small shared room and realized that it was the same man who had been such an important part of my education a few short months ago.

He was very incapacitated and the 135 lbs he now weighed stretched tightly over his 6’6″ frame. His eyes were closed and I quickly stepped out of the room to catch my breath. I had read that this patient had been diagnosed with brain cancer that had metastasized to many of his other organs. I believed this could not have possibly been the same man.

Unfortunately though it was. He was diagnosed shortly after we worked together and it was a fast moving cancer that had already been deemed incurable. He was coming into my care under hospice and was not expected to live long.

I had the honor of caring for him and hopefully repaying him somewhat for all of the wisdom he shared with me during his healthier time. He died quickly and peacefully and I have never forgotten.

This is why I Relay. For the other members of Team El Dorado their reasons are just as personal.

When I heard about the Highline Relay I knew instantly that this would be an event that all of our residents, staff, families and employees could share in.

I brought the idea back to the community at El Dorado West and they loved the thought of participating.

This year our team is made up of residents, staff and families all intent on living up to our team motto “Up All Night!!” We have members ranging in age of 11 to 90. Everyone takes part in their own way by fundraising, joining the team and walking the track on Relay night or by making sure Team El Dorado is cheered on here at the community that day.

Although the team officially has 15 members this year the real Team El Dorado is made up of all those in our community whose lives have been touched by a cancer diagnosis. We Relay for ourselves,or our sisters, brothers, parents, grandparents, friends, neighbors, patients, spouses, partners and others who have faced the words “you have cancer”. We Relay for those who have fought and won as well as those who have fought and lost. We relay for the chance to push vital research forward so no one else has to hear those words.

Please join us in our fight. Visit www.relayforlife.org/highlinewa to make your contirbution to the cure.

BTB Advertiser Normandy Park Senior Living is hosting a car wash this Saturday, May 9th, from 10am-3pm, at their location at 16625 1st Ave South in Normandy Park.

This fundraiser will benefit the Highline Relay for Life, so if you’ve got a car and it needs a feel-good scrubbin’, this is the place to go on Saturday.

The Big Burien Bunco Blowout is a fundraiser event for the American Cancer Society and Relay For Life, and is coming to BTB Advertiser

Here are the details:

WHAT: The Big Burien Bunco Blowout, a fundraising evening of Bunco including dinner and great prizes.

WHEN: Saturday, April 25th starting at 6:30pm

WHERE: El Dorado West Retirement Community, located at 1010 SW 134th Street (SW 134th at Ambaum Blvd.) in Burien (map below)

INFO: Join us for a fast paced evening of Bunco! This is our 2nd annual Burien Bunco Blowout to support the American Cancer Society and Relay For Life. Tickets are just $20.00 and include entry into the game with a chance to win a great vacation getaway and other fabulous prizes. Tickets also include dinner and refreshments through out the evening.

CONTACT: Contact Sarah or Laurie at 206-248-1975 to purchase your tickets. Seating is limited so call early for this fun event!

See the full event details at www.meetup.com.