Have a blast, kick cancer

The question isn't "Has cancer touched your life?" It's "How has cancer touched your life?" The National Cancer Institute website (www.cancer.gov) provides statistics on 37 forms of cancer. The number of types of cancer is in itself overwhelming, and analysis of statistics by age, sex and other factors leads one to believe that a May 6 report by United Press International is probably right on target.

The question isn't "Has cancer touched your life?"

It's "How has cancer touched your life?"

The National Cancer Institute website (www.cancer.gov) provides statistics on 37 forms of cancer. The number of types of cancer is in itself overwhelming, and analysis of statistics by age, sex and other factors leads one to believe that a May 6 report by United Press International is probably right on target.

In that story, research compiled by the President's Cancer Panel predicts 41 percent of Americans will be diagnosed with some form of cancer during their lifetime, and 21 percent will die from cancer. Put another way: In a family of five, two will get cancer, and one of them will die from it.

Whether cancer strikes a family member, a close friend or you yourself, its prevalence in society and proximity to loved ones is undeniable. How has it touched your life?

That's the question for Kootenai County residents, and for thousands of them, the answer is this: It's touched us, but we're fighting back.

When the sun begins its descent this evening, the spotlight will be on that fight during Relay for Life at the Greyhound Park and Event Center in Post Falls. Between the opening ceremony at 6 p.m. and closing ceremony at noon tomorrow, live entertainment, the lighting of luminaria, games, an auction and more will be punctuated by moments of somberness, silliness and serenity. Through it all, the fight to beat cancer and the enduring strength of the human spirit will be celebrated.

Money raised during the event goes to the American Cancer Society for research, programs and services, advocacy and education. The goal is to raise $100,000, which 60 relay teams and 150 cancer survivors have squarely in their targets.

Please, find a way to make a difference and attend the Relay for Life. If your available time tonight is limited, we recommend you attend either the opening Survivor Lap at 6 or the luminaria lighting and multimedia presentation at 9:30 p.m. You just might find you've got more time than you'd originally thought.

A special section including a complete schedule was published by The Press on Wednesday, but if you missed it stop by the newspaper's front desk at 201 N. Second St. in Coeur d'Alene and we'll be happy to give you a free copy.

Journalists receive reminder

Being human - or at least purporting to belong to the human race - every journalist makes mistakes. We made one earlier this week on a story about 49-year-old Rathdrum resident Grant C. Hoyt, whose body was found in a small pasture a week ago.

The final paragraph of the story detailed Hoyt's criminal record - which had absolutely nothing to do with the circumstances of his death or, for that matter, anything else that should have been included in a story about the death of a longtime and widely liked resident.

We apologize for the insensitivity we showed in that story, and we affirm that we'll strive to do better in the future. We're reminded that a little compassion goes a long way.