CNSC lanterns carry notes for loved ones lost

by Ed Moreth

Dozens of small colorful boxes lit up the dark sky over Plains last weekend with sentimental messages and seasonal greetings.

The annual Cancer Network of Sanders County "Lantern Launch" was held along the greenway at downtown Plains on Saturday night following the Christmas Light Parade. The nonprofit organization raised $450, which goes directly back to county residents going through cancer treatment.

"Our goal is to show our local community members that they are not alone in their fight to battle cancer and that our community cares about them," said Nick Ferrara, president of the CNSC, which for the second consecutive year has been able to give $1,000 "gifts" to 90 Sanders County community members getting cancer treatment. According to Shelley Bertrand, the organization's past president, they have given away $1,073,600 to 1,685 county people since it began in January 2001.

More than 100 people crowded around CNSC's fire pits to launch their lanterns. Some sent messages to lost loved ones and some were cancer survivors. The message on the lantern of 5-year-old Mya Aquino of Plains was simply "Merry Christmas." There were single people, couples and entire families sending their lanterns into the night. Some launched more than one.

For some, it was a form of closure, said Ferrara, who's been with the CNSC for five years. This was the second consecutive year that the event had been held on the greenway and in conjunction with the Plains Lions Club's "Kickoff To Christmas" and Ferraro believes it's growing every year. Sherryl Wachob, the organization's vice president, said they sold 45 lanterns.

The CNSC set up fire pits and used handheld torches to give the nearly three-ounce paper lanterns flight. Most of the people launched the foot-long lanterns at the greenway that night, but some took them home to do it in a more private setting. The launch went for about two hours. Bertrand and her husband, Michael, and Ferrara helped people set up the lanterns for launching. A few preferred that the CNSC members launch them. Ferrara said it was a great turnout. "It gets better and better every year and there were some very heartfelt messages," said Ferrara.

The CNSC's lantern launch started in 2010, but had been held at the Sanders County Fairgrounds until last year, when they moved it to the greenway to combine their event with the Plains Lions Club's festivities. The mission of the CNSC is to help those going through cancer treatment defray some of the costs. Recipients can use the money however they want. The only two stipulations to receive the gift is they must be a Sanders County resident and must be going through some type of cancer treatment. The recipients also receive a quilt from the Flat Iron Quilting Guild of Thompson Falls.

"It's great because everything we raise stays right here for our people," said Ferrara, who recently took over as president. The group is also doing a raffle for a custom made Christmas wreath and a Christmas swath, made by Sue Johnson. Raffle tickets are $2 and the winner will be announced at the town's "Christmas Stroll," which takes place on Friday from 4-7 p.m.