As Bigfork prepares for its ninth annual Relay for Life to benefit the American Cancer Society, I’d like to share my Relay for Life journey.

I had heard of Relay for years but couldn’t get it together to travel all the way to Kalispell to participate. Excited when I heard Relay was coming to Bigfork, I joined the committee, and have remained on it for nine years. I have held several positions to fully understand the Relay experience. I initially joined because it sounded like a good time.

What I heave learned through my journey is it is so much more. The ACS is truly here for the cancer patient. They are second only to the federal government in funding cancer research to find treatments and cures for all types of cancer. Beyond that, they offer programs to cancer patients and their families to support them in the cancer journey.

I recently heard of a family in a dire situation due to the husband/father’s four-year battle with brain cancer. I put them in touch with the ACS in Missoula to learn what programs they could benefit from. In addition, ACS was immediately able to find partners in the community to help them with a serious financial issue.

The ACS’s rapid response to this family’s desperate situation reminded me why I continue to support the ACS Relay for Life. I want to take this opportunity to make the community aware of upcoming events to benefit Relay for Life. Saturday, March 23, is the Flathead County-wide kick-off for Relay for Life at the fairgrounds from 4-7 p.m. Sunday, March 24, is a fundraiser for our cancer family at the Tall Pine Lounge, and Relay for Life of Bigfork is Friday, July 19, at the Bigfork High School football field.

Please join us at one or all of these events to support the ACS and what they do in our local community.

Debbie Ingram,

Bigfork