When Kathy Kahn and Cindy Sheehan candidly discuss the upcoming Relay for Life of Redmond/Kirkland, the close friends often look into each other’s eyes. There are times when they reach for each other’s hands for comfort.

They are both breast-cancer survivors. They’ve both had people close to them die from cancer.

For the Redmond residents, being involved with the Relay for Life American Cancer Society fund-raiser is an important part of their lives. When the event takes place June 1-2 on the Redmond High track, they’ll assume their roles as committee members for the 30-team, 229-person event and they’ll share their stories with others and lend vital support, as well.

“It’s a very solemn event,” said Sheehan, 70, during a break from a team captains meeting on Monday evening at Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland. “It’s very emotional and it’s very healing also for some people. It just brings back a lot of memories of all those that you’ve lost, all those that are dealing with it. For me, it’s how grateful I am that I’m soon to be a 10-year survivor. It’s kind of what keeps us in it, isn’t it Kathy?”

Sheehan lost a brother and sister to cancer, and Kahn’s daughter, Stephanie Chao, died from synovial sarcoma (a tumor in the leg muscle) six years ago at the age of 15.

Kahn, 55, and Sheehan have been involved with Relay for Life for nine years and honor their loved ones during the event’s luminaria, which features lighted candles in decorated paper bags for those who have passed away.

“Luminaria is always the hardest…” Kahn begins. “We always find each other,” Sheehan adds.

“We always do the relay in memory of her,” Kahn continues about her daughter. “We just keep the same team name (The Cancer Contenders), we always have the team represented for her.”

Kahn’s younger daughter, Emma Chao, is a Redmond High sophomore and is also involved with the relay. Stephanie’s old school friends and their parents also attend the relay to remember their pal and visit with Kahn.

To date, the Redmond/Kirkland group has raised about $55,000 for the American Cancer Society and it hopes to reach $90,000 by June 1. The event will start at noon on June 1 and finish at 8 a.m. on June 2.

Each team will have at least one member walking on the track at all times to symbolize how cancer never sleeps, Kahn said.

“We had to fight all the time,” she adds.

Sheehan said she breathes a sigh of relief when the event is done and all their hard work has paid off.

“You’re dead tired, but you think, ‘Look what we’ve done, look at the monies we’ve raised,’” she said.

Showing compassion for those with cancer or who have lost someone to the disease is part of Sheehan and Kahn’s lives all year round. Everybody feels connected, Sheehan said.

“It’s become a passion of mine now. When somebody has cancer and I know them, I’ll travel the journey with them. It helps me and makes my heart feel good,” she added.