Heather Latter
Although cancer-free since she was four years old, local teen Hannah Taylor still has strong support from her friends, which surely will be demonstrated next Friday (June 24) when the group participates in the annual “Relay for Life” here.
“We just want to do this for her,” said team captain Jillian Berry.
Taylor, now 18 and graduating from Fort Frances High School next week, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) as a young child.
She underwent two years of treatments in Winnipeg before being declared cancer-free.
Taylor then began school in senior kindergarten, after missing out on JK, becoming buddies with many of the friends she still has today.
“We’ve just always been together,” noted Katelyn Shortreed, adding several members of their group even are planning to attend the same university this fall.
“It feels really good to have such great support from my friends,” added Taylor.
She and her friends first put a team in the “Relay for Life” back in 2009, with plenty of help from their parents. This year, the teens decided to participate again—but without any parental assistance.
“It’s been hard to plan everything because everyone is so busy with school and work, but it feels good doing it all on our own,” Berry remarked.
“There is a lot of responsibility, but it always comes together,” added Shortreed.
Taylor acted as a volunteer during last year’s “Relay,” and has participated in the “Survivors’ Lap” for the past five years.
With this year’s theme being “Relay Through the Decades,” the team is excited to get into their ’80s motif. They are planning to dress up in ’80s attire and showcase some tunes from that decade.
“It should be a lot of fun,” Taylor enthused.
The group raised about $1,400 two years ago and believes they’ll be able to surpass that this year, especially since they have a 12-member team this time around.
“Everyone has been trying to raise as much as we can on our own so far,” noted Taylor, adding they also are holding a garage sale/bake sale this Saturday (June 18) from 7-11 a.m. at 1209 Elizabeth St. E.
But this team isn’t the only group from Fort Frances High School as at least two other teen teams have registered for the “Relay.”
“We’ve got a lot of high school kids participating this year, which is nice to see,” said event co-chair Jennifer Anderson.
“I think it’s great because it’s something teens should do,” stressed Berry.
“Cancer affects people of all ages so everyone should participate,” echoed Taylor.
Berry said while participating in the “Relay” in 2009, people spoke throughout the event reminding those in attendance about why they were there.
“It makes you feel proud that you are involved,” she remarked. “It brings people together and has a lot of meaning, especially in a small town.”
The Canadian Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life” is an overnight, non-competitive relay that celebrates cancer survivors while paying tribute to those lost to the disease.
Referred to as “a night of fun, friendship, and fundraising to beat cancer,” the “Relay” 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 “Relay for Life” is a signature event of the Canadian Cancer Society, taking place all across Canada during the month of June.
The local “Relay” will take place at Fort High beginning at 7 p.m., with the “Survivors’ Dinner” set to go beforehand at Boston Pizza, starting earlier this year (3:30 p.m.) to allow enough time for the participants to get to the high school for the “Survivors’ Lap.”
Plenty of other activities also are planned, such as a “Relay Idol” singing competition, with judges and prizes is in the works, in addition to theme laps and a frozen T-shirt game.
Meanwhile, luminaries are available at Pharmasave and The Harbourage for $5 each. People can take them home, decorate them, and return them to Gillons’.
They also will be available on-site.
In addition, an M&M Meats charity barbecue is being held this Friday (June 17) from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., with proceeds goings towards the “Relay.”
Orders will be taken and delivered to businesses that day.
Funds raised from the local “Relay” will be used within the Thunder Bay-Rainy River districts.
