ANACORTES, WA -- It has been a long standing tradition for Puget Sound Refinery to participate in the Anacortes Relay For Life.

  “In fact”, says Team Captain Jody Barnett, “our employees have participated in this event since the first year it was in Anacortes.  It seems that everyone’s life is touched by cancer in some way, and this is a wonderful way to make a difference.  We usually have 2 or 3 co-captains for the team each year, and we can count on about 40 employees participating by walking at the event”.

The 2010 Anacortes Relay For Life was held at the Port of Anacortes/Cap Sante Marina on June 18 & 19.   The Relay is an 18 hour overnight event, and teams are expected to have someone on the track at all times to remind us that Cancer never sleeps.   

The event began with the a blessing of the track by members of the Samish Tribe, followed by a “Survivors Lap” in which all the Cancer Survivors walked the first lap together, amid applause and cheers from the sidelines.  Participants enjoyed a barbeque dinner compliments of Gere-a-Deli Restaurant on Friday Night, as well as breakfast on Saturday morning. 

 The theme for this years event was “Celebrating More Birthdays” and PSR’s “Bloomin’ Birthdays Team” turned out in full force to do just that.  They recruited co-workers, friends and family members to take turns walking laps wearing a “birthday cake hat”, and they decorated their tent with baloons, party tablecloths, and signs.

To keep things lively during the night, there was a disc jockey playing music all night long, and there were “themed laps” scheduled such as Back To The Eighties, Disco Fever & Boogie Nights, One Hit Wonders, Bell Bottoms & Bobbie Socks,  Bed Head & Jammie Time, and Red, White & Blue.

One of the most moving parts of the event is the Luminaria Ceremony.  As the sun sets over campsites and darkness falls, the night is brightened by the glow of illuminated bags called luminaria, each bearing the name of someone who has battled cancer. 

Some celebrate cancer survivors, while others help us honor and remember those gone too soon. All represent someone special who has been profoundly affected by cancer and the family and friends who continue to fight back in their honor.

Several teams did “on-site” fundraisers during the relay.  The “Wrestlers For Life” team had a great fundraiser, where you could pay a price to have some unsuspecting person “jailed” and then the “jailer” would solicit walkers to donate money to bail the person out.   PSR’s General Manager Sue Krienen ended up in jail, and her bail was set at $75!

Puget’s “Bloomin’ Birthdays” Relay Team decided to try something new this year.  They held a Community Birthday Celebration & Auction in May to raise money for the Relay.  Over 200 people attended the event which included Dinner, The Magic of Sterling, both Live and Silent Auctions and a Desert Auction.  Refinery employees and local businesses donated over 90 auction items.  The Auctioneer, a cancer survivor, donated her services.  Numerous employees, friends and family members volunteered the night of the auction, and were instrumental in the success of the event. 

As a result of the auction fundraiser and individual team member fundraising, over $18,000 was raised for American Cancer Society and the Puget team won the “Top Fundraiser” award for 2010. 

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