EPHRATA — Ephrata’s Samantha Webb only lived for nine years until she passed away from cancer on 2003. But Saturday’s turnout at the annual SamScramble event in Ephrata, which is named after Samantha, proved that her memory will go on and the impact she left on the world will not be forgotten.

Part foot race, part scavenger hunt, SamScramble is a fairly simple event in which teams have 90 minutes to race to a number of different checkpoints around Ephrata, gathering information and answering questions for points. Just as with any competition, the top teams from each division won awards. Saturday’s event saw more than 100 people hitting the Ephrata pavement in a frantic quest to reach as many of the checkpoints as possible. Sure the teams were competitive. But in the end, the event was about more than awards and prizes.

SamScramble honors the memory of Webb, an Ephrata native who died on New Year’s Day in 2003. Every New Year’s Day since her passing, or New Year’s Eve in this year’s case, families, friends and community members have gathered and written messages on balloons and sent them into the air in Samantha’s honor.

“I didn’t know Samantha personally, but I truly believe that she is looking down on this annual fun event and smiling. You know, it just goes to show much a person can leave a positive impact on the world in such a short time. I mean look at all these people who could have stayed at home and been warm. This is a really beautiful thing to see all these people here,” said Debbie Clegg, who was at the Scramble to support her grandson who was participating in the event.

Proceeds from this year’s Scramble are being directed to local charities and Cancer Can’t, a non-profit organization founded by Ephrata High School graduates Jonathan and Becky Van Keulen. Jonathan succumbed to osteosarcoma, an aggressive form of bone cancer in April 2016. Cancer Can’t focuses on improving the living of oncology patients everywhere, with a specific focus placed on people living in eastern Washington.

Shortly before Jonathan lost his battle with cancer, Gov. Jay Inslee signed into law House Bill 2458, which gives people the ability to donate unused medications back to pharmacies. The medications can then be offered in turn to people who are in great need of the high-value medications. Cancer Can’t was instrumental in paving the way for the legislation to become a fully-fledged law. The organization still to this day provides funding for the charitable pharmacy program, with the end goal in mind of providing cancer patients with better access to the medications they need.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.