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Relay for Life to
raise funds for Cancer Society
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At the start of the 2000 Relay for Life, Ray
Sharp of Stanton Township and Sandra Harting of Toivola, strong
supporters of the Relay, run several laps together. Sharp has run
100 miles each year for the last five years of the Copper Country
Area Relay. (Keweenaw Today file photo)
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HOUGHTON ’Äì The sixth annual
Copper Country Area Relay for Life will offer the
community an opportunity to fight cancer in a
24-hour team event. From 1 p.m. on Friday, June 22,
to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 23, friends, neighbors,
work associates and families will celebrate those
who are surviving cancer and remember those who have
not. Teams of participants will take turns walking,
jogging or running around the track at Houghton High
School to raise money for the American Cancer
Society and to raise awareness of cancer and the
Society’Äôs work.
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In her Houghton shop, Framed by Kathy, Event
Manager and cancer survivor Kathy Archambeau, right, and her
daughter, Sandy Wilt, arrange Relay for Life bears and candles
donated by Which Craft for sale to benefit the American Cancer
Society. Also on display in the shop are donated afghans to be
auctioned off Thursday and Friday, June 7-8, at K-BEAR 102.3 radio
station.
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Event Manager Kathy Archambeau,
of Chassell, is a seven-year breast cancer survivor
who started the Copper Country Relay for Life in
1996 with her cousin Barb Bansfield of Dollar Bay.
Bansfield, also a seven-year cancer survivor, is
Captains Coordinator of the event. In Archambeau’Äôs
Houghton shop, Framed by Kathy, her daughter, Sandy
Wilt of Hancock, has been helping her mom get ready
for the Relay by arranging hand-made afghans for
auction and Relay bears and special scented gel
candles for sale to benefit the Cancer Society.
’ÄúMy store becomes Relay
Central this time of year,’Äù Archambeau said,
proudly indicating the beautiful afghans that will
be auctioned off, along with pies made by local
celebrities, from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday, June
7, and Friday, June 8, at the K-BEAR 102.3 radio
station on Montezuma Avenue in Houghton.
She noted a large, brightly
colored afghan with yellow daisies ’Äì a donation
from Europe.
’ÄúAbout 200 Girl Scouts from
Germany made this,’Äù Archambeau said. ’ÄúEach daisy
was made by a different Girl Scout, and the leaders
crocheted them together.’Äù
One of those Girl Scout leaders
happen to be Barb Bansfield’Äôs daughter, Leah
Bartram, who lives in Germany, Archambeau explained.
Mimi Merz, wife of Houghton
Mayor Tom Merz, and Mary Roy of Hancock also donated
afghans for the auction ’Äì in the Relay colors of
pink, purple and white.
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Proceeds from the sale of Relay bears and
scented candles and from the auction of these hand-made afghans
will go to the American Cancer Society. The items are on display
at Framed by Kathy, a Houghton shop owned by Kathy Archambeau,
cancer survivor and event manager for the Relay,
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The American Cancer Society
donated the bears, which Archambeau sells for $10
each in her shop, with all the proceeds returning to
the Society. Which Craft donated the candles in
attractive glass candle holders, also for sale in
the shop. Three fragrances ’Äì Light of Hope, New
Beginnings and Angel Kisses ’Äì were made especially
for the Relay. Chances on a hand-crafted wooden
bench can also be purchased in the Framed by Kathy
shop, located in the Market Place, 314 Shelden
Avenue, Houghton. Hours are Monday through Friday,
10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Phone: 482-3550.
Last year the Copper Country
Relay for Life raised a net amount of $74,664 for
the Cancer Society. Totals for the five other Upper
Peninsula Area Relays were: Gogebic, $54,094;
Mackinac, $28,400; Dickinson, $53,620; Marquette,
$34,936; Chippewa, $16,659.
’ÄúThe (Copper Country Area)
goal for this year is $100,000,’Äù Archambeau said.
Each team member is asked to
raise a minimum of $100 from donors before the event
to earn their t-shirt. Incentive prizes are offered
to those who raise more money. A sponsor or the team
members themselves can pay a team registration fee
of $150.
’ÄúWe sign up people right to
the end,’Äù Archambeau noted. ’ÄúIt’Äôs never too
late, and it’Äôs sure never too late to give a
donation.’Äù
At 7:30 p.m. on Friday, June
22, cancer survivors ’Äì cheered on by families,
friends and colleagues ’Äì take to the track for one
Victory Lap. All cancer survivors are invited to
participate and can register at 6:30 p.m. at the
Relay. Upon completion of the Victory Lap,
caregivers join the survivors for a lap around the
track. Caregivers include anyone who has taken care
of a loved one with cancer. Entire families may
participate in this special lap.
At dusk on Friday, Luminaria
candles will be lit to remember loved ones who lost
their battle with cancer or to honor someone who
survived or is currently battling cancer. The
Luminaria Ceremony begins at 9:30 p.m. Everyone is
invited to attend this ceremony in which Luminaria
line the track and the candles remain burning
throughout the night. The minimum donation for each
luminary is $10.
Corporate media sponsorships of
the Upper Peninsula Relay for Life include: Gold
Sponsor ’Äì $6,000; Silver Sponsor ’Äì $2,000;
Bronze Sponsor ’Äì $1,000. For more information call
1-800-469-0149 or email mpeterso@cancer.org.
’Äì Michele Anderson
June 6, 2001
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