Heather Latter
New York Avenue, Kentucky Avenue, St. Charles Place, Mediterranean Avenue, Pacific Avenue, Marvin Gardens, Water Works, and the Short Line Railroad were just a few of the “properties” represented during this year’s annual “Relay for Life,” which brought in nearly $83,000 for cancer programs and research.
Held overnight Friday at the Fort Frances High School and featuring a “Monopoly” theme, the fundraiser managed to top last year’s amount when just under $82,000 was raised.
“I thought the ‘Relay’ went phenomenally well,” said committee co-chair Jennifer Anderson.
“It turned out we had only 17 teams and we still managed to raise $82,900, which is just absolutely amazing,” she enthused.
One team, “Snow White and the Survivors,” raised $14,000 by themselves while the “Cancerbusters” team was right behind them with more than $11,000.
“They worked really hard this year to raise the money,” said Anderson, though reminding it isn’t a competition to raise the most funds.
“No matter your contribution, every little bit helps,” she stressed.
“Relay for Life” is an inspirational, non-competitive, 12-hour overnight fundraiser that brings people and their communities together to celebrate life and to fight cancer.
The event features 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.
Anderson said this year’s event was a lot of fun with the “Monopoly” theme.
“That’s something Fort Frances has always done—embrace the theme we’ve thrown at them and to have fun with it, so that’s so great,” she remarked.
The “Kentucky Avenue” team, for instance, took on a farm theme, complete with pig races, while the “New York Avenue” team used Coney Island as their inspiration, selling chili dogs and wearing Statue of Liberty hats.
And the “St. Charles Place” team showcased a Mardi Gras theme.
There also was a cruise theme for “Mediterranean Avenue,” a hula theme for “Pacific Avenue,” a flower theme for “Marvin Gardens,” and, of course, a water theme for “Water Works” and a railroad theme for the “Short Line Railroad.”
“It was a lot of fun,” reiterated Anderson, adding all teams also had a fundraising element on-site, such a train rides, a dunk tank, games, and plenty of items for sale.
The also was a friendly “Jail or Bail,” which saw team members “locked up” until they raised their bail, as well as several people shaving their head.
Local band “Distant Legacy” provided the musical entertainment.
“There was plenty of things for people to see and do,” Anderson said.
And while hailing the event a success, Anderson added the committee also was pleased with the luminary sales, which lined the track and were lit in memory and in honour of loved ones, as well as the turnout of cancer survivors.
“The luminary sales went really well,” she noted. “And there was a great turnout for the ceremony, as well as people who decorated and did luminaries on-site.
“It is just amazing for me to see the community turn out and support us the way they do,” Anderson continued.
“We were ecstatic with the turnout of the survivors. We actually had a lot of people show up last-minute.
“We were expecting 45 and we ended up with more than that, which is nice to see,” she said.
Anderson admitted the weather was a cause for concern leading up to the “Relay,” with the threat of thunderstorms in the forecast.
But by Friday, the forecast had changed and the sun even came out.
“It held off and worked for us very well, so we were quite happy,” she remarked, noting they’ve had very good luck with the weather since changing the location from Pither’s Point to Fort Frances High School three years ago.
As this year, the “Relay” continued its partnership with the Riverside Foundation for Health Care.
“So anything over our actual goal of $45,000 stays here,” Anderson explained, saying every dollar raised over that goes to the Foundation.
While the official numbers have yet to be tabulated, Anderson said the “Relay” committee is really looking forward to being able to give Riverside a big cheque.
“And that money is kept local because that’s so important,” she stressed. “To have the opportunity to do that and help people in town is great.
“And, of course, a percentage of that [initial] $45,000 stays local anyway,” added Anderson, noting 40 percent of it stays here to fund cancer programs and activities while the rest goes to cancer research.
“So it’s a lot of money staying in the community,” she reiterated.
Meanwhile, the committee already is planning to meet to discuss next year’s “Relay.”
“There’s definitely going to be a ‘Relay’ next year,” said Anderson. “So anybody interested in helping out or joining the committee can certainly get in touch with me.”
She can be reached at 276-4594.
