Lyndsay, Miles and Justin Lamb, pictured above.
courtesy Lamb family
SNOHOMISH — Before Snohomish battles Lynnwood High on the gridiron Sept. 29, fans will combat a much tougher opponent in the Panther parking lot.
“Thursday Night Lights,” a tailgate and pep rally, runs from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with a goal to raise $40,000 toward fighting childhood cancer.
All proceeds from the rally, which includes food, face painting, and a silent auction, will be donated to Seattle Children’s Hospital Research Foundation, the scientific research arm of the hospital. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month.
“We try every year to do something for Children’s,” said sponsor Lyndsay Lamb. “This year we decided to step it up and really raise awareness throughout the community.”
“Their doctors are world-class,” said Lyndsay’s husband Justin Lamb. “They change lives.”
This is something the couple knows first-hand.
Ten years ago their only child, Miles, was diagnosed with cancer: stage three Large B-cell Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
Chemotherapy and surgery put the disease in remission. But two years ago it surfaced again, requiring more surgery.
Though the diagnosis was scary, Lyndsay says the care given by Children’s staff inspired optimism.
“Knowing there are people who do this every single day was incredibly comforting,” she said. “It relieved some of that fear and stress.”
Now their son is a Snohomish High senior. He’s a captain on the football team and reached the Wesco district tournament twice as a 132-pound wrestler.
Most important, he’s cancer free.
“The kid’s just an overcomer,” said Panthers football coach Joey Hammer. “He’s small in stature but plays like he’s a giant. He never focuses on the negative, only the positive and how he’s going to overcome it. I just love his approach.”
Hammer had to talk Miles into rejoining the program after his second surgery.
The coach pulled him from a class, and they chatted for nearly an hour.
“I told him, ‘You don’t understand how much we need you,’” Hammer said.
The morning after a Sept. 2 loss to Glacier Peak, the 5-foot-9-inch, 137-pound captain fulfilled his coach’s words.
“He stood up in front of the team and said, ‘Whether we’re friends or not, I’m holding you accountable,’” Hammer said. “That kid is just off the charts.”
Snohomish won its next two games, against Mountlake Terrace and Shorecrest.
The captain, for his part, prefers not to dwell on the past.
He experienced great care and support at Children’s, he texted. “I hope that this fundraiser gives other kids a chance to feel the same support I did.”
There is no admission charge for Thursday Night Lights, though a $5 donation is strongly encouraged.
Cathouse Pizza will be offering a slice of pizza and a soda for $5, and Snohomish Pie Co. will be selling Piescream, a mix of ice cream and pie. The two shops are donating their sale proceeds to the cause.
There will be games and contests for kids, such as hitting a target with a football, and a performance by the SHS marching band.
Fans can get also their faces painted and buy red-and-white pom poms for the game.
At halftime of the football game, which kicks off at 7 p.m., they’ll draw the raffle winner of the Dream Playhouse & Pizza Party Coloring Giveaway.
This lucky person will get a custom-built playhouse delivered to their backyard. To enter the raffle, pick up a coloring sheet from Lamb & Co.’s home goods store at 801 First St. and return it there by Tuesday, Sept. 27 or by email to becca@lambandcompany.com
“We’re trying to inspire people to think outside of their comfort zone,” Justin Lamb said. “We’re hoping this event will inspire someone to donate who wouldn’t have before.”
People can pre-purchase pizza, pom poms or more for Thursday Night Lights at snohomishthursdaynightlights.eventbrite.com
Additional donations to Children’s can be made at https://give.seattlechild
rens.org/lambandcompany
