Butterflies raise money for cancer patients

Hundreds of butterflies will be released over Flathead Lake on Sunday in honor of those whose lives were taken by cancer.

The Flathead Cancer Aid service is sponsoring the event in honor of National Cancer Survivors day.

“We wanted an event that was positive and really celebratory,” Flathead Cancer Aid volunteer Britt McGillivray said.

Last year was the first year of the event and about 100 people came, McGillivray said. “We invited everyone to come down if they have someone in their lives they want to honor.”

The event will feature a mass release of 40 butterflies done by two cancer survivors, Phyllis Valentino and Andrea Call.

Attendees are invited to release their individual butterflies. Butterflies can be purchased for $10 to release in honor of someone in their life who has battled cancer.

The proceeds from each butterfly will go toward the Flathead Cancer Aid Service, which is a relatively new non-profit that was started by two breast cancer survivors, Sandy Shaw and Marcie Jackson. Both were members of Save a Sister when they noticed a different kind of financial need among those battling cancer.

While there was money going toward testing, and treatments for patients, many needed help with personal finances that had been strained since they fell ill.

They formed Flathead Cancer Aid, and since 2012 the organization has given out about $61,000 to 53 patients around the Flathead Valley.

That funding is used to help purchase groceries, pay rent, utility bills and other basic everyday expenses that cancer patients often have a hard time covering because of the expensive costs of medical bills and treatments. 

The release will take place at the Raven in Woods Bay from 1 to 3 p.m.

There will also be live music with Christian Johnson, free ice cream from Sweet Peaks and local Girl Scouts handing out cookies and helping with the butterflies.