By Steve Edwards

BCJ News

At its March meeting the Chinook-based Cancer Support Group heard an update on the upcoming Relay for Life event. Colleen Mulonet, one of three co-chairs for the new 2017 North Central Montana Relay, explained how Blaine and Hill Counties will combine their efforts for the June 23 event. The collaboration marks a new stage in how the American Cancer Society (ACS) will stage its main, annual fundraiser in this part of Montana. Each year the relay event will rotate its location. Mulonet said, “After a coin toss, the site for the first year’s combined relay is Havre, next year it will be in Chinook.”

Mulonet is no stranger to the relay for life, having been involved for seven years with the Blaine County effort. She has also experienced the loss of a loved one to cancer and said, “Part of why I work with the relay is to honor my father who died from cancer.” She then held up her arm to display a tattoo that honors the memory of her father.

She presented a recap of some of the major accomplishments by the American Cancer Society during its 100+ years of fighting cancer, noting that since 1946 the society has invested more than $3.5 billion in cancer research and continues to invest about $400 million annually. The significance of this research is reflected by the fact that 47 Nobel Prizes have been awarded to ACS funded researchers. Major research projects led to breakthroughs we now take for granted as diagnostic tools and treatments: the Pap Test for women; mammography; the PSA test for men; chemotherapy and bone marrow transplants. The latest research now focuses at the molecular level to diagnose and treat.

The results of the Montana relays, however, help Montanans. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the state with an estimated 6000 new cases of cancer diagnosed and slightly more than 2000 deaths resulting from cancer each year. Mulonet said the money raised in Montana stays in Montana, assisting with cancer research, education and prevention programs and helping cancer patients and their families.

Last year, in Blaine County alone, eight teams raised around $14,000. Mulonet reported four teams are already organized in Blaine County and five in Hill County for the 2017 event and she’s hopeful more teams will be organizing. Individuals wishing to participate in the fundraising and walk can join an existing team or form a new one.

To join an existing team or start a new team, go to the ACS website: http://www.relayforlife.org. The website will help locate an area event (look for the North Central Montana Relay) and has directions for connecting with an existing team or creating a new team. Or, call 1-800-227-2345 and select option 2. That option will connect the caller with a staffer who can help answer questions about teams.

Other regular events that will be available again this year include luminaries, the lights that surround the track during the walk to honor cancer patients and victims, the survivors’ dinner before the walk and the walk itself. Cancer survivors are encouraged to participate in the survivors’ dinner held before the walk. Survivors then lead the first lap of the actual walk. You can get more information about purchasing luminaries and the survivors dinner by calling Colleen Mulonet at 357-3827.

This year’s walk will be at Havre High School from 5:30 pm to midnight. Adam Murphy, a disc jockey from Chinook, will provide the music during the walk. The walk is the celebratory part of the fundraiser and teams typically try to have at least one team member walking all during the walk on the school track. The goal of the 2017 Relay for Life of North Central Montana is to raise $14,000.

You’ll be hearing more about the Relay for Life and the fundraising efforts associated with it. Please support the event with your donations and participation.