MARYSVILLE – Most of the time we provide you with information.

But for once I’d like to turn the table.

I need to get information from you. Please email me comments to spowell@marysvilleglobe.com or call me at 360-654-4157.

My question is simple: “Why has participation in Relay For Life fallen so much?”

I really want to know. I know some people who used to be very involved in it, and now not only do they not show up, they won’t even donate.

Why is that?

I know it’s not because there is no longer a problem with cancer.

My wife is an oncology nurse. I am reminded every day about how cancer affects people’s lives. I hear every day how busy she is. I hear every day about people who had their last treatment and get to go home. I hear every day about people who have to go on hospice. I hear every day about people and their families struggling to make it through the fight against cancer.

The problem is not going away. I have a brother-in-law and a cousin-in-law both dealing with severe cases now.

There have been advancements in treatment. The survival rate is so much better than it used to be. But more research needs to be done. Even though people are living longer they still are dying.

So if the need is there, why isn’t the interest.

Is it the time of year? Are people too busy to give up a summer day?

Is it because the event is not entertaining enough. This last one at the Tulalip Amphitheatre had different games going on every hour. They also had a hypnotist and classic rock band perform. Years ago, when I first got involved in Relay For Life in the early 1990s, the event was much harder. The goal was go get a group of people together and walk around a track for 24-hours straight. I remember one year walking from 2 to 5 a.m. It was fun. I did it in honor of my grandmother who died of cancer.

We got sponsors for each lap we did, and that’s how money was raised for the American Cancer Society.

One year I did one in Port Angeles there must have been 30 teams with tents around the track. One I did a few years later in Everett was about the same.

As years went by the event became more about corporate sponsors. The number of laps no longer meant anything. Events brought in more music and fun activities to try to draw people. But interest waned.

I just want to know why? Please help. I would like to pass the information on to event organizers to see if changes can be made to get the Relay For Life to be a major community event that it used to be.

To show you how bad it was, the only city leader I saw there was Jesica Stickles, and she’s from Arlington.

Steve Powell is the managing editor of The Marysville Globe and The Arlington Times.