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They looked like colorful stars rising into the clear night over the Sanders County Fairgrounds Saturday night slowly disappearing into the darkness.

The Cancer Network of Sanders County sent 60 lanterns into the sky as part of its annual Lantern Launch fundraiser, raising $600. "It's beautiful and it's emotional watching them go up," said Paula Ivy, treasurer for the CNSC and this year's project coordinator.

The lanterns sent up Saturday had numerous messages written on them destined for loved ones who lost their lives to cancer. Some bought the $10 lanterns to honor friends and relatives who were cancer victims or survivors, but some were for people who passed away for other reasons. Most of the launchers were CNSC members and volunteers, including Mike and Linda Bellows of Thompson Falls. Linda sent a lantern into the night in remembrance of her daughter, Amy Jo Barron, who was lost to cancer five years ago at age 44. This was the first year for the Bellows couple to participate in the lantern launching.

The CNSC was established 21 years ago and have been conducting the lantern launch fundraiser for a dozen years, though the organization raised more than twice the amount last year. Everything raised by the CNSC remains in Sanders County for Sanders County residents. It is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping those who have been diagnosed with cancer by giving them a "gift" of $900 to help defray some of the costs.

The12-inch tall lanterns are biodegradable, but the company changed the material of the fuel source this year, which didn't work as well, according to John Clark, a CNSC past president who paid for about 150 of them and donated them to the organization. The wind was a bit stronger than in past launches and instead of sending the lanterns northwest, they went northeast, some barely missing the giant fairgrounds flag. Cheyenne Cirolia, CNSC's secretary, started inflating the lanterns inside the Agriculture Building, but a constant strong winds right next to the building prompted her to move to the lawn area, which seemed to work better.

Only a couple of the lanterns were damaged and became unusable. One got stuck high in a nearby tree and was lost. Another went into the same tree, but CNSC board member Brian Reed was able to retrieve it. One got stuck on the chain link fence, but sender Laura Pickering pulled it off the fence and sent it into the night. Pickering resides in Star, Idaho, with her husband, Scott, who grew up in the Plains area and graduated from Plains High School. His mother, Karen, who was also at the launch, works at the school. Scott and Laura traveled to Plains to celebrate Thanksgiving with his family. They launched lanterns for family members, but stayed to help launch others.

"I feel that any time we raise money for Cancer Network, it is a success," said Ivy. "This was my first time participating, and I was told that in previous years we raised more money at the event, but we were competing this year with the Christmas events going on in town," added Ivy. She believes the messages are a way to honor and keep loved one's memories alive. "Many of the lanterns were to honor cancer survivors and encourage those fighting cancer as well," she said. "I think it brings a sense of comfort and hope that they see what we are doing to honor them," said Ivy.

The event lasted only a little over an hour. The majority of the lanterns were bought before Saturday and sent aloft by CNSC volunteers, but a couple people showed up to buy and launch their own. Phil Crismore of Plains purchased four, one for his wife Pat, who passed due to cancer, and three others for family and friends.

Since October, the CNSC has given out 69 gifts this year for a total of $62,100 and $858,500 since 2001. "We are able to, in a small way, help ease some of the expenses incurred with treatment, said Ivy. "Living in a more remote area, it is quite a drive to get to appointments and treatment. The money can be used for gas, lodging, prescriptions, or anything else they need," she said.

The organization relies on its fundraisers to remain afloat and to help its own county residents. The lantern launch is only one of a handful of fundraisers the CNSC puts on each year. Other functions include a Music For Mom in Thompson Falls in May, the Fall Extravaganza in Plains in October, and they participate in the Yard Sale-ing in Plains in June. They're also planning a raffle next year.

Bertrand said that the CNSC is important to the community because it helps people who are often fighting for their lives and takes away some of the financial burden. And it's one of the few organizations where all money raised stays right in Sanders County, according to Bertrand.