Grateful to be a resident of the Mat-Su Borough

To the editor:

There are so many times I am grateful to be a resident of the Mat-Su Borough and Alaska at large. This weekend was one of them.

A huge thank you to the more than three dozen downtown Palmer merchants, various health care providers, cancer treatment support groups and cancer treatment organizations, along with media partners of Country Legends 100.9, Q99.7 Valley Radio, Radio Free Palmer and the Frontiersman for a stellar “Retail Therapy” event on Saturday, March 28.

Under the direction of Diana Matukonis of Valley Radiation Therapy Center and Denise Statz of NonEssentials, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, caregivers, families, friends, and those fighting, conquering and surviving cancer had a time to wander through downtown Palmer and see it at it’s best. There was even free transportation provided by Mat-Su Senior Services. Each participant received a generous goodie bag filled with coupons for food, entertainment, drawings, scarves, roses, discounts and so much more that I know I’d forget something or someone! There was some amazing “Moose Jaw” storytelling by A.J. Seims, great demonstrations throughout the town, gallery viewings were bright spots of our local talent, and hopefully the vendors felt as positive as the many participants — I hear there were several hundred people milling around town through the event.

As a participant and spotlight vendor (besides a survivor, caregiver, health professional and friend), it was fun to be a “fly on the wall” and hear all the good and positive things that were shared as people came by Fireside Books. I heard things I think we all “know” but it’s nice to hear them spoken verbally, out loud.

Kudos again, downtown Palmer, on the first ever, stellar “Retail Therapy” event!

Care Tuk

Wasilla