“Relay for Life” set to go Friday

Flood waters have parted and the second-annual “Relay for Life” is set to take over Pither’s Point here Friday night.
The 12-hour relay, a fundraiser in support of the Canadian Cancer Society, gets underway at 7 p.m. and runs until 7 a.m. on Saturday.
Last year, the inaugural event raised $75,000 for cancer research and treatment, and organizers are hoping to match that total again this year.
As last-minute preparations are completed, organizers also are keeping an eye on the skies—hoping no more rain descends on Pither’s Point.
“I can’t worry about that at this point. Things are going ahead and the weather is supposed to be nice,” co-ordinator Sue Danku said Thursday morning.
“I’m praying to the gods of weather and doing sun dances,” she added.
While Pither’s Point looked more like a lake than a campground after last week’s torrential rainfall, Danku said the ground is in much better shape now.
“It is a little damp but we are hoping that the next two days will remain sunny,” she said. “It’s not too, too bad. We are just telling people who will be tenting to look for higher ground [because it is dryer].”
Danku noted registration for teams will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Friday.
So far, 36 teams (averaging between 10 and 12 participants each) have signed up—up from 32 teams last year.
Participants will be treated to complimentary dinner and breakfast for their efforts.
Danku also wanted to remind people that luminaries in memory of those who have died of cancer, or to honour those who have survived the disease, are still available.
“Luminaries are still on sale at Tagg’s and Pharmasave until Friday at 3 p.m., then they will be available on-site,” she said.
The $5 memorials will be placed around the edge of the track and lit at dusk in a touching ceremony to kick off the “Relay for Life.”