Help build a park bench in Barbara's memory

Hi, I'm Brian Cantwell and I'm raising funds to place a park bench in memory of my dear wife, Barbara Alice (Burns) Cantwell, who lost her life to breast cancer in April at age 66. With the assistance of my good friend Daniel Farber, we've gained permission from Washington State Parks officials to place a bench at a scenic point along a hiking trail that Barbara, our daughter Lillian and I loved on Sucia Island, a marine state park in Washington's San Juans.

My family visited Sucia Island many times over the years in our sailboat, and Barbara asked that part of her cremated remains be cast on the waters there. This park bench was another of Barbara's requests. She loved to hike Sucia's lovely trails and be able to pause and sit beside me on a summer day, gaze out at the beauty of the islands, and maybe munch a sandwich while we watched eagles fly over and seals swim by. She asked that we create another bench so that others could enjoy the same pleasure.

Money raised will pay for the bench, a bronze plaque bearing Barbara's name, and expenses related to transporting and installing the bench. We hope to complete the installation by autumn of 2021, so funding is needed now. If any funds remain, they will be donated to Washington State Parks in appreciation of the pleasure we've gained from our state's parks over many years.