Staff photo by David Heldreth A purple porta-potty, that is a Relay for Life fundraiser, sits at City Hall during a ceremony to honor the American Cancer Society's Paint Our Town Purple Day on Tuesday.
The Relay for Life - a fundraising event supporting the American Cancer Society - was a natural when my partner and I chose which charity our infant business would support. Michele's family - most especially through her husband, Casey - is riddled with the disease. Our first year participating in the walk was especially poignant since the family had lost its patriarch, Raymond Wahl, only a few months before. For those of you who have not participated in the walk, Relay for Life is the world's largest fundraising event. In 2003, over 2.5 million folks, including 500,000, survivors participated raising more than $300 million for the ACS. For 24 hours, teams made up of friends, families and co-workers as well as survivors and their caretakers, take to the track and keep someone from their team walking. This year we are proud to have more than 35 teams. Each member on the team tries to raise at least $100. The team, working together, sets a goal and then brainstorms various ways to raise money. I am so proud of my partner spearheading this endeavor each year with the help of her sisters-in-law, Stacey and Heather. I have to say, though, that I thought she was out of her mind to set our team goal at $5,000. How in the world were we ever going to raise that kind of money? Last year, one of the girls had two porta-potties donated by her father-in-law who runs such a business. Wouldn't it be funny, we thought, to paint the porta-potties purple (the official color for the Relay for Life) and then run them around town charging "protection money" to haul the offending portable away? The idea was cute and we shared a lot of laughs over it, but it never quite came to fruition. Well guess what, Barstow? Have you been following the story in the paper? Each morning, on the front page, there has been a little purple column entitled "Where's the potty?" A list is printed there that is a veritable who's who of Barstow's foremost citizens and businesses. Barstow's outpouring of support has been overwhelming and, at times, hysterically funny. It wasn't long after the story ran announcing our fundraiser that we started getting calls from folks ordering up their potty visits for friends and family. Not long afterward, we started getting good natured calls from folks wanting to know who had sent the potty their way so that they could, no doubt, plan some playful payback. Folks, I am proud to report to you that after three days of rolling around town, the purple potty has earned the American Cancer Society an astounding $1,000. It is exactly this outpouring of support and good old fashioned small town fun that makes Barstow such a great place to live. Our friend and team member, Ron Webster, has been kind enough to be in charge of potty transport. After picking the potty up from Joe Gomez Wednesday morning, Ron headed for Curan Electric, the next victim named by Joe. Ron barely got pulled into the parking lot before Steve came running out with the $25.00 "fee" laughing as he sent Ron on his way. "Keep this thing moving!" So it has gone each day with Ron moving the potty seven to ten times each day. We had hoped when we came up with this idea that we would move the potty once or maybe twice each day. Instead, the potty has been somewhat like a grand beach ball bouncing from place to place. Barstow's Relay for Life has set a goal of $100,000 for the May 19 and 20 event. While it sounds like an improbable amount, Barstow has raised more than that in each of the past few years. Relay for Life kicks off May 19 with the Survivor Lap. If you are a survivor, you can pick up a survivor form at our office at the old Barstow Mall. There is no charge for your breakfast served at 8:30. At 9:00, wearing the purple T-shirt you will be given, you and folks like you will be cheered by all of us as you take the first victory lap. After the Survivor and Caretaker laps, teams will take to the track. Even if you are not on a team, come by Barstow High and visit all the team sites. Not only will you pick up great information about fighting various types of cancer, but each team has their own fundraising efforts going. You'll be able to pick up various home made goodies, play games and chat with folks you haven't seen in awhile. Saturday night is the Luminaria Ceremony. Tiny white bags glow through the night lining the track and spelling out "HOPE" on the bleachers. Each bag bears the name of a loved one honored. If there is someone you would like to honor, stop by and pick up a Luminaria form. Each bag will cost only a $5 donation. Barstow, you're great! We hope you can keep the Purple Potty rolling until the relay. If there's someone you'd like to gift with a potty visit, call or stop by Back on Track (256-2800).
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