Heather Latter
You don’t have to be a member of a team to support this year’s “Relay For Life.”
Set to go this Friday night at Fort Frances High School, with opening ceremonies starting at 6:30 p.m., the public is invited to come out to help in the fight against cancer.
“There’s going to be lots of stuff going on before the opening ceremonies starts,” noted committee co-chair Jennifer Anderson.
“So if the public wants to come down anytime after 5 p.m., there’s going to be tons of different activities going on with the teams and their fundraising,” she said.
With more than 20 teams taking part this year, people can expect to see everything from cupcakes and chili dog sales to hair extensions and bouncy castles.
“There’s going to be lots of things for people to see and do before the ceremony starts, as well as afterwards,” Anderson stressed.
“And there will definitely be plenty of on-site fundraising, so people should bring a little bit of pocket money will them,” she urged.
“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.
But the public can take part, too, by supporting the teams with their fundraising efforts, participating in the activities, and applauding the survivors and health-care providers.
Cancer survivors and health-care providers—including doctors, nurses, counsellors, Com Care workers, and anyone involved in the care of a cancer patient—also are encouraged to come out to the “Relay.”
“After attending the ‘Relay Summit’ in Toronto, I realized that we don’t put enough emphasis on recognizing all those involved in the process once someone is diagnosed with cancer,” explained committee member Cindy Homer.
“I don’t believe that they have ever been invited to the ‘Relay’ to be properly thanked and applauded for their efforts,” she noted.
“I wanted to do that,” Homer stressed. “It’s a piece that I believe is missing from the event.”
Organizers are planning an informal activity at the event with applause and a lap honouring their hard work.
Meanwhile, the survivors also will do a lap around the track to open the event, which follows the “Survivors’ Dinner” at Boston Pizza.
The public also is welcome to purchase luminaries, which will line the track, as well as take part in the luminary ceremony at dusk.
“We’ve always given people the opportunity to light their own luminaries,” Anderson noted.
This year, people will be able to pick up a clothespin, which they can put on their bags to let volunteers know that someone would like to light that luminary.
Anderson added people can purchase luminary bags at local businesses for $5 each. They can decorate their own and turn them in, or have the committee take care of it.
In addition, those on hand will be treated to entertainment provided by local band “Distant Legacy,” and there also will be a head-shaving and a “Jail or Bail” to go along with the “Monopoly” theme.
“All the teams have embraced the ‘Monopoly’ theme by picking a different property to represent,” Anderson explained.
“That should be a lot of fun.”
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.
“There will be some great big dice, and [we] will be using the ‘Chance’ and ‘Community Chest’ cards to do some education and prevention of cancer,” Anderson said.
“We’re really trying to work the theme in this year.”
And Anderson feels all teams seem to have their eye on the goal of raising her target of $100,000.
“We haven’t seen the numbers yet,” she conceded, noting “bank night” takes place tonight.
“But I know we have two teams right around, if not over, $10,000,” she noted. “And two more that are already over $5,000, and there is still plenty of fundraisers going on.
“So I think everyone is doing extremely well,” she enthused.
While just under $82,000 was raised last year, Anderson admitted her goal might be a little ambitious. But as some motivation, she has stated she will shave her head at the closing ceremony if $100,000 is reached.
This year, the “Relay” once again will partner with the Riverside Foundation for Health Care.
“So anything over our actual goal of $45,000 stays here,” Anderson noted.
“So every dollar we raise over that goes to the Foundation.”
From last year’s “Relay,” a donation of $32,150 was presented to the Foundation back in January.
“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.
Anderson stressed the “Relay” is going to be a great event.
“I just hope the weather co-operates for us,” she added.
For more information, call Anderson (276-4594) or Nicole Schatull (274-3369) for survivor events, and Christine Denby (274-7716) for luminaries.
