LIHU‘E — Pat Flynn of Tacoma, Wash., who for her years of organizing various Relay For Life events around 15 years ago began being called “the Mother of Relay,” continues to participate in American Cancer Society Relay For Life events for one purpose:
“So someday we’ll be able to say that cancer is no longer,” she said while visiting the island last week.
Her family has had a unit at Kaua‘i Kailani in Waipouli for several years, and not only enjoys this island very much but also the distinct Relay For Life events, one in Hanapepe and one in Hanalei.
The Hanalei Relay For Life is Saturday and Sunday, June 12 and 13, and the Hanapepe Relay For Life was last month, raising over $150,000.
“I love Kaua‘i,” said Flynn, who will miss both of this year’s Kaua‘i events, as the Hanalei event is the same weekend as one of Tacoma’s.
“I’m so proud of what you folks have accomplished on Kaua‘i. You have a flavor over here. It’s different than anywhere else,” said Flynn, who was the Hanapepe 2008 Fight Back Ceremony guest speaker.
During Fight Back portions of Relays, participants pledge to adopt healthier lifestyles, quit smoking, educate others and otherwise vow to attempt to help keep their lives and the lives of others cancer-free.
“I have been touched by the survivors I have met” on Kaua‘i she said, adding that her family has blessed to have been relatively free from cancer.
Still, she walks, and helps train volunteers for successful Relays.
“I Relay for a grandmother who was very, very close to me, and very, very close friends. We’ve been very, very lucky” in avoiding cancer in her family, she said.
“I know why we keep doing this, and I understand the amazing survivor stories. And there will be more survivors,” she said.
“So I’m going to keep helping to raise” funds and awareness, she said during a telephone interview from the ACS Kaua‘i office on the campus of St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church here.
Regarding the Hanalei Relay, which is in its second year and has been smaller than the Hanapepe event, Flynn said what’s important isn’t necessarily the team-number or monetary goals, but just “to be together” with friends and raise funds and awareness.
“It’s a community kind of event. Everybody’s been touched by cancer in one way or another,” said Flynn, 72.
“This is the way to fight back, get involved,” in addition to learning about cancer-prevention methods and helping to get neighbors informed, she said.
From a single man on a single track in Tacoma 26 years ago, Relay For Life has grown into a national event and since 1985 has raised $400 billion in the fight against cancer, she said.
“That’s paid for a lot of research, patient services, advocacy, education and prevention,” said Flynn, who had been a public-school-district public information officer before her retirement six years ago.
When asked if her continued involvement in Relay has kept her looking and feeling younger than her chronological years, she quickly replied, “absolutely.”
When she walks the track in Tacoma the same weekend as the Hanalei relay, there will be 135 teams and a goal of $800,000.
When Dr. Gordy Klatt, a cancer surgeon, first took to a Tacoma track for 24 hours of walking alone back in 1985, Flynn was a patient of his, but not a cancer patient, she said.
She came to check in on him during the night while he was walking, and while Klatt walked he envisioned a team relay event, and later asked Flynn to be on the committee.
“Success in Tacoma was immediate,” and Klatt conducted as many training sessions as his schedule would allow, said Flynn.
“Gordy is the vision, and I’m more the details.”
Around 15 years ago, people started calling her “the Mother of Relay,” she said.
Today, there are 10 Relays in the county where Tacoma is, all spun from Klatt’s solo walk in 1985. Tacoma has a population of 200,000.
Teams are still welcome for the Hanalei Relay. Call 246-0695 for details.
• Paul C. Curtis, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@kauaipubco.com.
