Bonner General celebrating life with annual fun run/walk

We all know and love someone who has fought, died, or recovered from cancer. For Julie Walkington, her sister’s eight-year battle with breast cancer was the inspiration for Celebrate Life, a fun run/walk that has been a Sandpoint community event every summer for the past four years.

Julie’s only sister, Jenny Meyer, was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer eight years ago. Although Jenny lost her battle with cancer last month, she courageously fought this disease daily.

Inspired by her sister’s fight against cancer and the many courageous patients she encounters in her career as a nurse, Julie envisioned making a difference. Together, Julie and her friend, January Tunistra, both registered nurses at Bonner General Hospital, established the Celebrate Life fun run/walk to make that vision a reality.

This year marks the fifth anniversary of the Celebrate Life Fun Run/Walk. A fun event for the whole family, Celebrate Life is an opportunity for people of all age groups and fitness levels to make a difference in the lives of those touched by cancer. Although Julie understandably anticipates this year’s event with some sadness, her vision and purpose remain the same: to offer assistance and enhance the lives of our family, friends, and neighbors affected by cancer in the Sandpoint community.

During the past four years, Celebrate Life has raised more than $56,000, which has been given directly to those in the Sandpoint community battling cancer. All monies raised at this year’s event will be distributed to local cancer patients through Bonner General Hospital’s Outpatient Clinic and Hospice departments, as well as to Kootenai Cancer Center at BGH.

This year’s fifth annual Celebrate Life will begin on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008, at 9 a.m. at Dog Beach (at the north end of the Long Bridge). The route will extend south toward Sagle to the opposite end of the Long Bridge and back. Registration forms are available at the BGH Switchboard or Meyer’s Sport-Tees.

Registration fees are $20 for adults and $12 for juniors who register prior to Aug. 1; after that date, fees are $25 for adults and $15 for juniors. For more information, call 263-6790.

Make plans now to join your friends and neighbors to Celebrate Life!

Lynda Metz is the director of community development for Bonner General Hospital.