After years of participating in other communities Relay For Life, Washington residents were able to stay closer to home.
Washingtonian Josh Marshall spent the past nine years requesting a Washington event.

“I think this is our time,” Marshall said in response to the American Cancer Society asking him if he would chair the local event.

With the recent population increase, Washington was on the society’s radar, and now it is on the map, thanks to participant efforts.

After completing the tally of donations Friday night, Marshall said, the walkers surpassed their goal by collecting more than $27,000.
Washington’s Relay was one of four area events to surpass its goal, he added.

One walker, Jessica Long, walked throughout the night with only a one-hour break.

By the time exhaustion and aching feet got the better of her Sunday morning, she logged 18 and a half miles.

For some of those miles, she walked with fellow Clovers for a Cure team members. For some, she continued her solo trek.

She said it was important to her because her mom, Ann, is a cancer survivor.

She added that at times she would get lonely because while she walked by herself, she could not talk to anyone on her phone because of a low battery.

Ann, whose cancer has been in remission for almost 11 years, said it was just something her daughter wanted to do.

Survivors
During the opening ceremonies, survivor Paul Neakrase said he would get the words biopsy and autopsy mixed up after he was first diagnosed with cancer about 17 years ago.

“Everyone does it as well as we can,” Neakrase said, adding, “We want to live well — try to keep living.”
Dana Frantz was diagnosed in 2007. Frantz said she was given four to six weeks to live if she did not get treatment and four to six months with treatment.

“I am still here,” she said, adding, “I am fighting the fight of my life.”
Frantz, a Washington resident for the past 20 years, said she is proud to be a part of the first Washington Relay For Life.

Teams
Thirteen teams, including two comprised of Washington Community High School students, participated in the event during which team members walk around the track in relay fashion.

The object is to raise money for the American Cancer Society with hopes of finding a cure for cancer.

During the course of the evening and into the next day, there is always someone walking around the track, even in the dark.

The teams were: Clovers for a Cure, Clovers for a Cure 2, Courageous Farmers, Don’t be Lost at C (Cancer), Free Spirits, the Golden Family, Peoria Women’s Bowling Association, SOS (Save our Sisters), Team Melissa, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, The Running Robertsons, Touch of Homespun and We’ll Bag Cancer.

This year’s Relay got a late start, Marshall said, adding that local businesses stepped up to help make the event a success.

Team captains and the event committee will be meeting in about two to three weeks to do a final wrap-up and get started on next year’s event.

Teams that sign up by Nov. 1 will receive half-price registration, Marshall said.