Relay for Life returning to North Bend

by Jason Futch
Published 7/8/26

For the first time in North Bend’s history, last year the American Cancer Society Relay for Life made its way to town. The event is a community-based fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. According to its website, the mission of the Relay for Life is to raise funds to improve cancer survival, decrease the incidence of cancer, and improve the quality of life for cancer patients and their caretakers.

Brandi Arneal, who is leading the charge in this year’s event, said that cancer has touched the lives of many in North Bend, and that it was important to bring the event back to honor those who have fought the battle and won, or in memory of those who fought a brave battle against it.

“It’s a good community event that people can come together for,” she said. “Cancer has touched our community and (the relay) is something that we would like to continue and see grow.”

During the event, participants have the option of walking in honor or in memory of those with cancer, sometimes taking turns with members of their relay team. People can also sit and just be part of the event without walking.

Last year, North Bend’s Relay for Life event raised $10,000 for the American Cancer Society. The idea for event came from United Presbyterian Church pastor Connie Stone, who felt strongly about the fight against cancer.

“Fremont used to hold a county-wide Relay for Life event that was really popular, but in the last couple of years, they haven’t,” Arneal said. “(Stone) wanted to get something started.”

While Stone led the efforts to organize last year’s event, she passed the torch to Arneal, who has a knack for leadership in community events and volunteered to take on the project after serving on the committee last year.

The committee meets once a month to work toward making the event a reality. For some of the members, cancer has touched their lives in one way or another.
One of those members is Nichole Ruzicka. Her mother, Kathi Dlouhy, battled melanoma for approximately three years. It started with an alarming growth by her ear, which ultimately progressed to her lymph nodes.

“Over the next two and a half years, it just spread,” Ruzicka said. “It spread to her lungs, liver and bones.”

Before Ruzicka’s middle son (Dlouhy’s second grandson) graduated from North Bend Central last May, it was revealed that the cancer had spread to Dlouhy’s brain. Despite traveling to Houston to see a specialist about trials, she did not qualify for them. Shortly after, the cancer became more problematic throughout the summer. Dlouhy passed away in August at the age of 66.

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Those wishing to participate can visit www.relayforlife.org/NorthBendNE to sign up.

Participants can also order a luminaria bag for $10. Luminarias are lit up after dark to honor every life touched by cancer. They are dedicated to loved one lost, someone currently battling or anyone who has overcome cancer. Most luminarias are decorated with names and messages to the people they are dedicated to. This year, Arneal said the bags will be lit up at dusk, one of the last things done during the event.

Since 1986, the American Cancer Society has raised over $7 billion nationally through its Relay for Life events.

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