The Kenai Golf Course was aglow Tuesday on the longest night of the year, by a nearly full moon overhead, candle-lit bags lining a ski trail and the headlamps, neon safety vests and light-up glasses of the participants and organizers of the StarLight StarBright: Winter Solstice Ski Event, held as a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.
“It warms my very frozen heart to see that there’s no parking in the parking lot, which means it’s a success already, said Solstice Ski organizer Johna Beech, who serves on the advisory board from the American Cancer Society for Alaska. “OK, mission moment — all the money raised tonight goes to the American Cancer Society. For those of you that aren’t aware, the American Cancer Society is the number one funder of research, second only to the U.S. government. So, we want to raise as much as we can to find a cure for cancer, right?”
“Yeah!”
“This is not a race, so please don’t feel like you have to race, Beech continued. “I know there’s some high schoolers here that I heard them talking about being warmed up already. I’m proud of you, don’t knock anyone over. I know it’s cold, so I’m going to turn you guys loose. I’m getting out of the way and we’ll go on three, fair enough? One, two, three go!”
And they’re off — bundled against the single-digit temperatures, skiing their way to the first stretch of luminaria lining the trail.
The lighted bags each bear a name in celebration or memory of someone who has battled cancer. Luminaria are a staple at Rely for Life events, the day-long walk-a-thons and festivals held all over the country as fundraisers for the American Cancer Society. Fundraising for Relay happens all year round. For the Kenai Peninsula Relay for Life, that includes the Honor and Hope Gala, scheduled for Feb. 26, the ever-popular Kenai River Brewery-to-Bathroom point-5 kilometer fun run in August and the Relay for Life itself the first weekend in June at Soldotna Creek Park. And, now, a solstice ski that Beech hopes to make an annual event.
“Every little bit counts. Every luminaria, every dollar, you know, it all goes to funding programs and research, programs and research,” Beech said.
Fundraising around cancer has changed over the years. Social media has helped the cause of direct fundraising for cancer patients and their families. Those Go-Fund-Me efforts are helpful to individual patients, but they don’t address the root of the problem. Relay for Life raises money to fund research for a cure.
“And they’re in honor of people that have battled cancer and they’re in memory of people that we have lost to cancer. It’s kind of heartwarming to see some of those names and a little bit sad,” Beech said. “There’s one out there for Hobo Jim, which, today is his birthday. But it’s a reminder that with all the advancements that we’ve made with cancer, we still have people that die, and they die quickly. I mean, Hobo, start to finish, you know, less than three months. And my mom, start to finish, less than three months. And our work here is not done.”
Rachelle Gruenberg is an ER nurse at Central Peninsula Hospital. She was out skiing with fellow nurses in light-up neon vests that could have been seen halfway to Soldotna.
“As we take care of many patients locally, as well as, you know, family members in the past, as well. But, mostly, it’s the people we take care of. We just support the Cancer Society. We enjoy skiing. We were looking forward to this and then the beautiful orange moon out there, we’ve got the stars. Even though it dropped 10 degrees, we’re happy. The moon and the stars are well worth it,” Gruenberg said.
Angelica and Tom Green have been Relay supporters for years, though this was their first frozen fundraiser. They had no regrets.
“My grandparents and everybody that I know that I’ve lost, this is for them,” Angelica said.
“Once you get moving, it’s not too cold,” Tom added.
“It’s for a good cause. I would do this in any temperatures,” Angelica said.
Kenai Peninsula Relay for Life’s fundraising goal for 2022 is $65,000. Find more information on donating or getting involved here.
