Rathdrum Relay for Life in transition
BRIAN WALKER/bwalker@cdapress.com | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 years, 11 months AGO
RATHDRUM - The Rathdrum Relay for Life, an American Cancer Society fundraiser held at Lakeland High for the past four summers, will not happen this year.
But Tamie Phelps, fundraiser organizer, said it doesn't mean the ACS can't or won't drum up a smaller-scale event such as one to honor cancer survivors.
"We did not cancel the event," she said. "The committee stepped down at this time. We believed that we were at the time in the process that we couldn't put on an event that we would be proud of and that would be what everyone expected to see and have.
"That is not saying that we wouldn't do it again some day or be involved in this very important event."
The event was scheduled for Aug. 7.
Phelps said the ACS has recently been training new employees, and committee members didn't believe they had the guidance that was needed to make the event happen successfully.
"They came back to us (wanting to proceed with the event), but at that time we believed we couldn't pull it off," Phelps said. "We were really really getting down to crunch time."
Phelps said the committee still hadn't secured a permit from the school district to hold the event at Lakeland High or taken care of insurance requirements.
Phelps said she and other committee members are willing to be mentors if a new leader picks up the relay's baton.
The fundraiser raised about $100,000 during its first four years. About 500 attended the event each year. Teams also have the option of holding their own fundraisers separate from the event itself.
Three teams have registered for the Rathdrum event and more than $700 has been raised, so Phelps wants to notify people about the transition. Those funds will still go to the ACS, Phelps said.
"We've given the teams the option to join the Coeur d'Alene Relay if they want or are able," Phelps said.
The Coeur d'Alene event is June 12 and 13 at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.
Sandra Norton, senior manager of Relay for Life for the ACS in Spokane, said she realizes the Rathdrum committee became "a little nervous" about not being able to organize an event they'd hoped for and that the ACS turnover was a challenge for the committee.
"I think they felt vulnerable, so we're looking for a person who wants to step up into their shoes," said Norton, adding that some relay fundraisers have continued under similar circumstances in the past. "It can be more of a challenge finding that person in a smaller community."
Norton said the ACS is exploring options to honor survivors in the Rathdrum area and to revive the event in 2016.
"We want to do it very responsibly, so we have to be patient on those plans," she said.
Phelps said she's hopeful that the event in Rathdrum can be revived.
"This has always been an event that is very important and dear to my heart as well as the other committee members," she said. "I hope to see more people get involved and bring this back to our town and grow it to be the event I know it can be."
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