Rathdrum Relay revived

RATHDRUM — The Rathdrum Relay for Life has new life.

The fundraiser for the American Cancer Society wasn't held in August as originally planned, but it will resume on a Friday and Saturday to be determined in July 2016, said Jessica Bronte, the ACS community manager for the event.

Bronte said two teams — Athol Elementary and Team TNT — continued to raise funds for the ACS despite there not being a relay event in Rathdrum and that was a flicker of hope to bring the two-day event back.

"We just said it's too important to go away altogether," Bronte said.

There will be an informational meeting at the Rathdrum Library tonight at 7 to let people know how to become involved and form teams. The public is invited.

"The ball is rolling and we want to get organized so it doesn't all fall on a few people's shoulders," Bronte said. "We're excited to bring it back."

Bronte said she and Heidi Schuette of Team TNT began to spread the word in September about the relay's revival.

"She was really instrumental in bringing the Rathdrum relay back," Bronte said of Schuette.

Interested volunteers held a mini luminary ceremony called Afternoon of Hope in a park in September when Sheila Holfeltz, who recently moved to Rathdrum and previously was involved in another Relay for Life, became involved.

Bronte, Holfeltz and other volunteers since went to a summit on how to organize an event, setting the stage for the fundraiser to resume in 2016.

The Rathdrum Relay for Life was held for four summers, but this year's event was canceled after the committee stepped down.

Former event organizer Tamie Phelps said at the time that the committee didn't believe it had the guidance that was needed to make the event happen successfully and, by the time help was offered, it was too late to hold the event, due to logistics. At the time, the ACS was experiencing staff turnover.

The fundraiser raised about $100,000 during its first four years. About 500 attended the event each year.