By LINDA KELLETT

C-S-E News Staff

CANAJOHARIE — Amiah Valdez’s 12th birthday celebration at the Iroquois Lanes bowling alley wasn’t your run-of-the-mill theme party.

The mid-January celebration featured black-lighted glow-bowling, party favors, games, and refreshments. But a closer look revealed the cupcakes were decorated with pink ribbon icing, and the multi-colored decorations strung around the room also had a deeper meaning: They represented some of the two dozen cancer awareness ribbon colors — including purple for survivors.

The “goodie bags” also contained a few unusual items.

As noted by Amiah’s grandmother, Canajoharie resident Kathy Walsh, the bags represented “survival kits” and included items like toothpicks, rubber bands and bubble gum.

In a Jan. 19 e-mail, Walsh said the following message was included with each of the bags: “A toothpick to remind you to pick the good qualities in everyone, including yourself. A rubber band to remind you to be flexible. Things might not always go the way you want, but it can be worked out. A band-aid to remind you to heal hurt feelings, either yours or someone else’s.”

Additionally, each bag included “[a]n eraser to remind you everyone makes mistakes. That’s okay, we learn by our errors. A candy kiss to remind you everyone needs a compliment or a hug everyday. A mint to remind you that you are worth a mint to your family and me. Bubble gum to remind you to stick with it and you can accomplish anything. A pencil to remind you to list your blessings everyday. A tea bag to remind you to relax daily and go over that list of God’s blessings.”

Perhaps the most unusual aspect of the Canajoharie middle schooler’s birthday celebration was that she didn’t ask for gifts for herself. She asked her 20 guests to make donations to the American Cancer Society.

As noted by Walsh, the invitees generously contributed $200 to the cause.

Another of Amiah’s initiatives has been the collection of pink lids from Yoplait containers, which help raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The lids can be turned in at the Canajoharie Middle School office.

Finally, Walsh said this will be the 6th grader’s third year as a participant in the Cooperstown Relay for Life event.

She wrote, “[Amiah] is a member of the Doin’ It For You team which was originally the Doin’ It For Donna team organized by the staff of Cherry Valley-Springfield School... Donna Thienpont was an English teacher at the school who inspired the entire Cherry Valley community with her bravery in a struggle to beat a rare form of leukemia. When she lost the battle in 2003 the team changed its name, as many of the school’s staff and community members were finding that they too had cancer.”

Walsh said the Cooperstown Relay for Life is observing its fifteenth anniversary in 2013. She has participated for thirteen of those years.

Amiah’s grandfather, John Walsh, has been a participant since 2003 and is a cancer survivor.