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POSTED: Friday, Jul. 10, 2009

Whatcom County flamingo flock raises money to fight cancer

It's like Christmas morning when they come. You peek out the blinds expecting to see grass but are surprised by something more. In this case, it's not snow or reindeer: it's 50 pink flamingos, and they're on a mission.

Since 2000, this flock of flamingos has migrated from house to house in Whatcom County, raising money for cancer research and prompting smiles wherever they go.

At the helm of these pink plastic birds are a group of Whatcom County women whose lives have been touched by cancer: sisters Pam Hall, Cindy McGrady and Liz Standow, and sisters Dana Browne and Debbie Dykas. They call themselves FLAMINGOS: Fun-Loving Adventurous Mothers In Nature's Garden Overcoming Stress.

They and their friends set up the flocks in the early morning hours, collect donations from homeowners and send the birds off to whomever the homeowner would like to get flocked next. Perhaps a friend who's lost a loved one to cancer. Or someone who needs to brighten up her treatment. Or just someone who would get a kick out of all those long-legged lovelies.

"We're so proud of them," Dykas said of the flamingos. "They're like our babies."

In their years landing on lawns, these flamingos have raised more than $100,000 for the American Cancer Society. Everywhere they go, the flamingo journal has gone with them, a record of the whimsy felt by those who have been flocked. The women call it a sacred vessel.

"The best part was we'd get to read the journal," Dykas said. "This is bigger than the birds."

And after years of positive feedback, they've had the flamingo journal published as a book, called "Waking Up to Pink Flamingos." The book is available at Village Books for $20, and the women also are selling it during Bellingham's Relay for Life starting Friday, July 10. All profits from the book will go to the American Cancer Society.

An excerpt from one of many journal entries:

"The night had been long, the next stage has begun. We'd just signed up with Hospice and don't know where the road will run. In the morning what to our wondrous eyes did appear? But a flock of flamingos bringing love and good cheer."

The flamingos have become a family affair for these sisters and friends. Their husbands, children, parents and more help out with the flocking. Hall's daughter, Jessie, is 23 and just got back from five years in the Navy. She helped the women set up for Relay for Life and gets excited talking about her future with the flamingos.

"Seeing how much it's grown and how much influence it has, it's inspiring," Jessie said. "I want to do it, too. It's definitely something I think you could expand. I think it could be huge."

BUY THE BOOK

"Waking Up to Pink Flamingos," the journal of the flamingos' travels over the past nine years, is available for $20 at Village Books in Fairhaven.

The book also will be for sale at the Relay for Life race starting Friday, July 10.

To schedule a flamingo flocking for a birthday, graduation or any other event, call Debbie Dykas at 305-0129.

RELAY FOR LIFE

Relay for Life will take place at the downtown Bellingham library, 210 Central Ave., with an opening ceremony at 6 p.m. Friday, July 10.

For more information about the relay, go to whatcomrelay.org.