Rain didn’t dampen success of ‘Relay’

Although the weather was certainly less than ideal, this year’s annual “Relay for Life” was still deemed a success.
“It was a pretty soggy Friday and Saturday, but it didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits,” stressed event organizer John Rafferty. “Everyone had a good time.”
The event, a significant fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society, ran from 7 p.m. on Friday evening until 7 a.m. Saturday morning at Pither’s Point Park.
Pledges from the 21 participating teams, luminary sales, and other fundraisers helped to bring in more than $50,000 from the local event.
“It all goes to cancer research,” he explained. “Fort Frances has shown they can come together for a cause. Everyone in Fort Frances should be proud.”
He noted in addition to the effort put forth by the more than 200 participants, the volunteers, businesses, and other people who made donations toward the cause should be congratulated too.
Rafferty indicated about 50 local cancer survivors participated in the “Relay for Life” as well, with all participants joining them in the first lap due to the onset of the rain.
“Some of the activities we had planned couldn’t go ahead because of the rain. We needed it to be a little drier than it was,” he said. “But everyone still seemed to have a good time.”
Despite the wet weather, the luminaries, candles that are placed in special bags bearing the names of cancer survivors and those who have lost their battle with the disease, were lit during a twilight ceremony.
They are meant to provide light and inspiration to participants throughout the night.
“They all got lit and we had a volunteer crew going around to make sure they stayed lit,” Rafferty explained. “They didn’t all stay lit, but the majority of them did. The luminaries are always quite lovely—even in the rain.”
And most of the participants made it to the end of the event, despite having to battle several downpours through the night.
“We had a good number out for breakfast at 7 a.m.,” he voiced, adding the morning meal was provided by the local Kiwanis Club.
They also had a new ceremony this year—a “Fight Back” ceremony—that enticed participants to stay right to the end of the event.
“It was excellent. It went very well,” Rafferty enthused. “It basically it was saying that it’s wonderful that we’ve done this for 12 hours, but we need to fight 365 days of the year. And we need to support those people who are fighting.
“It was sort of a reaffirmation of our pledges to beat cancer,” he added.
At the end of the “Fight Back” ceremony, everyone signed a large banner that will go to Queen’s Park in the fall when they hold a “Relay” event there.
“So it’s nice to know that Fort Frances will be represented,” he remarked.
Rafferty indicated he was pleased to see the spirit of all of the teams.
“A lot of teams go all out,” he expressed, citing many had elaborate costumes and props.
One team featured a jail cell and police car, with team members dressed a jail birds, reminding people to “break out for a cure,” while the “Pink Attitoode” team went with a hockey theme, complete with referees, hockey players, and cheerleaders.
They even had a team cheer and set up a small “rink,” along with bleachers, a penalty box, and canteen, at their site.
Meanwhile, Linda Angus was recognized as the top individual fundraiser, while her team—the “Circus of Hope”—was the top fundraising team.
And if people would like to know where the money raise from the “Relay” goes, Rafferty provided some examples.
“Last year more than $300,000 was used for airfares, and of course some was used for our regular programs,” he explained. “And right now at the Cancer Clinic in Thunder Bay, we’re sponsoring 22 clinical trials.
“So there’s a real direct benefit to local people in Northern Ontario,” he stressed.
He hopes the “Relay for Life” will continue to go next year, as several people have already committed to being a part of the organizing committee for the 2009 event.