Shining light

Incredible. Amazing. Inspiring.
Any number of superlatives can be used to describe the scene Friday night around the track behind Fort Frances High School as the local “Relay for Life” raised a record $81,000—and counting!
The dedication of those involved—from the organizers to the team members who collected pledges, staged fundraisers, shaved their heads, and walked lap after lap all night long—is difficult to put into words. It is a testament to the determination to someday beat cancer, a scourge that obviously has touched so many district families.
It was a night to mourn those lost to this dreaded disease—as seen by the touching tributes on the luminaries that ringed the track. But it was a night of celebration, too, with the “Survivors’ Lap” personifying perfectly that cancer can be beaten.
The lighting of the luminaries at dusk always provides the most emotional moment, and there likely were few dry eyes as the Fort Frances Highlanders played “Amazing Grace” and Sandra Allan sang “I Will Remember You.” But the glow rising up afterwards also was comforting—a fitting symbol of hope that we will prevail in the fight against cancer.
The other shining light was the generosity of those who opened their wallets. Times may be tough, and there are so many worthy causes to support, but one can always count on district residents coming through.
Incredible. Amazing. Inspiring.