LEBANON - Van Essen Nursery of Lebanon has made a new variety of hydrangea available to mid-valley retail garden centers to sell as a benefit for the American Cancer Society.

Some of the plants will be for sale at the fifth annual Lebanon Relay for Life, which starts at 10 a.m. June 26 at Lebanon High School.

One hundred percent of the profits from the pink hydrangeas called "Invincibelle Spirit" will be donated to the American Cancer Society, with an additional 5 cents from each one sold going to the Breast Cancer Foundation.

The plants are new and will not be available for sale in garden centers until 2010 except through this benefit. A limited quantity is available at Tom's Garden Center in Albany, Green Thumb Garden Center in Lebanon and Garland Nursery in Corvallis.

Van Essen will count the sales as part of its team fundraising for Relay for Life. Team members are participating this year in memory of their coworker Tashia Seiber, who lost her battle with colon cancer last year.

Sponsored by the American Cancer Society, Relay for Life is a 24-hour event in which teams take turns walking around a track to raise funds to fight cancer. The event is marking its 25th anniversary this year.

Event chairwoman Darlynn Roe said 37 teams have registered so far for the Lebanon relay. This year's theme is "Back to the Future," and the fundraising goal is $84,000.

To register, donate or receive more information, see the event website at www.relayforlife.org/lebanonor, or contact Roe at (541) 990-4300.

Democrat-Herald