By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
Katahdin coach and physical education instructor Bob Dyer had a zest for life and a spirit of giving. He liked to tease and joke, but when someone was in need, Dyer wanted to help.
Dyer died of cancer on Nov. 5, 2010.
But, the Dyers — wife Patsy and daughters Jaime, Jodi and Jinger — started the “Celebration of Life” event in the Katahdin area when he was still alive.
Contributed photograph
TOGETHER — Jinger Dyer Pepin and her father, Bob Dyer, participated in the Celebration of Life event. Dyer died from cancer in 2010. This year, his family again will hold the event on Feb. 16 at Katahdin High School to benefit those battling their fight with cancer.
“He had a prognosis of two years, but went beyond that,” said Patsy.
The Dyer women couldn’t handle the emotions of holding the event when Bob died, so they took a hiatus.
“We had kept raised funds to give people locally for expenses incurred with their treatment,” said Patsy. “As you can imagine, those funds are depleting.”
So this year on Saturday, Feb. 16 at Katahdin High School in Stacyville, the seventh annual Katahdin Area Celebration of Life event will be held.
“Everyone has known a loved one who has received the devastating diagnosis of cancer,” said Patsy. “The Katahdin area has been hit hard by many cases of cancer and it has touched many of our lives. We created a special day of celebration for cancer survivors, their families, and their friends.”
The Celebration of Life activity is a three-mile ski, snowshoe hike and two-mile walk. Participants collect pledges, with a minimum donation of $15, with the first 100 participants receiving a free long-sleeve T-shirt.
“The Celebration of Life will inspire you to touch the hearts of people in our community that have fought this battle and are winning,” said Patsy. “Cancer is fought with a lot of willpower, family and community support, faith, and hope.”
Registration for the event is 9 a.m. with the event beginning at 10 a.m. A spaghetti lunch will be served at 11 a.m. with door prizes awarded — other than the quilt raffle — to those in attendance. Other raffles will be held on a window painting and a two-person rafting trip with Three Rivers.
Cash donations will be accepted for non-participants and checks may be made out to Katahdin Elementary School.
For more information, call Dyer at 731-4630 or Jaime Pangburn 843-7377.
Celebration for Life has raised $50,000 in its first six years.
