2013 ‘Relay’ kicks off with major donation

This year’s “Relay for Life” kicked off Monday afternoon with a donation of $32,150 to the Riverside Foundation for Health Care, which teamed up with the Canadian Cancer Society last June for the 12th-annual event here.
“Partnerships like ours unite organizations engaged in the fight against cancer on a daily basis,” noted Maria Cabral of the Canadian Cancer Society.

“Last year, we brought together our two organizations to work in tandem in an effort to increase survival rates and enhance the lives of people living with cancer,” she said.
“This year, I expect to keep the momentum going and show everyone that working together has a much bigger impact in the fight against cancer.”
Foundation executive director Nicke Baird said she is very excited to be the charity of choice for the local “Relay for Life.”
“It’s a great opportunity to keep the money local and to provide the residents of the Rainy River District with better cancer prevention, awareness, and treatment,” she noted.
The large donation helped the “Together We Can” fundraising campaign purchase a new digital mammography unit.
“And we had a lot of fun participating in the festivities and fun, too,” Baird added.
“Relay for Life” is an inspirational, non-competitive, 12-hour overnight fundraiser that brings people and their communities together to celebrate life and fight cancer.
The event has a festival-like atmosphere that family, friends, and co-workers can enjoy regardless of their age or fitness level.
It involves teams of 10 people who take turns walking, running, or strolling around a track. Teams consist of people representing corporations, communities, families, and friends.
The 2013 “Relay” is set for June 21 at Fort Frances High School.
“We’re just getting started with planning for this year but, of course, we expect it to continue building on the momentum of last year’s event,” enthused Jennifer Anderson, co-chair of the organizing committee.
The committee already has determined the theme for this year will be “Monopoly.”
“What that means is teams will pick a property [from the ‘Monopoly’ board] to represent,” Anderson explained, noting they can decorate and dress up in that theme.
She added the location of the “property” will determine where each team’s campsite will be located as the entire track will be laid out like the “Monopoly” board.
As such, teams will not be allowed to select a property that already is being represented.
“So teams should start registering,” Anderson urged.
Those interested in signing up can do so online at www.cancer.ca/relay or by contacting Anderson at 276-4594.
“We already have one team registered and they have even started fundraising already,” she noted.
The first meeting for team captains is set for Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. at Gillons’ Insurance office here.
Anderson also said the committee plans to have activities throughout the event based on the “Monopoly” theme.
“We hope it’s something people will have fun with,” she remarked, noting it was a suggestion brought forth by one of last year’s teams.
“We thought it was a great idea,” Anderson enthused. “It’s something different.
“We’re quite excited by it.”
This year’s “Relay” once again will feature a survivors’ dinner prior to the annual “Survivors’ Lap,” as well as the luminary ceremony.
Anyone interested in volunteering, registering a team, or who may have questions or suggestions is asked to call Anderson (276-4594).