Heather Latter
Although still more than five months away, the “Relay for Life” committee already is gearing up for the June 29 event with a kick-off meeting set for tomorrow (Jan. 12) at the Super 8 Motel here.
“We’re starting a little bit earlier this year in the hopes that we can get our teams registered earlier and allow them more time for fundraising,” explained committee co-chair Jennifer Anderson.
“As well, it also gives us a chance to recruit more teams and more volunteers,” she added.
“And to plan out the events so that they are bigger and better.”
The Canadian Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life” is an overnight, non-competitive relay that celebrates cancer survivors and pays tribute to passed loved ones while fighting back in the hope of finding a cure for this terrible disease.
It involves teams of about 10 people, consisting of those representing corporations, communities, families, and friends, who take turns walking, running, or strolling around a track.
The “Relay for Life” is a signature event of the Canadian Cancer Society, taking place all across Canada at different times throughout the year.
Anderson conceded they have a small committee but they’re eager to get plans for the event underway.
“We’ve got a couple new people on the committee this year,” she noted. “And we have moved people around a little bit—some of the older committee members are taking on new roles.
“But we’re always looking for more help,” she stressed.
“Part of doing the kick-off [tomorrow] is to see if we can get more volunteers because there is a ton of work to do with site set-up and clean-up, and helping to run the events through the night.”
The committee is hoping the event once again will be held at Fort Frances High School, where it has been for the past two years after being moved there from Pither’s Point Park.
“It’s a fabulous venue for us with the track being there and the space available,” Anderson explained. “It’s nice and convenient for the survivors’ dinner which is held at Boston Pizza.
“As well, if the weather turns bad, we always have the option of moving indoors since the high school allows us access to the gyms.
“The Point was beautiful but also very isolated, and I find we’re getting more foot traffic being at the high school,” she noted.
And after a very successful event last year with 15 teams raising $70,000, Anderson said they hope to exceed that amount this year.
She’s hoping to see 25 teams register, as well as more survivors attending the dinner and then the initial “Victory Lap” around the track.
“It will be bigger and better this year,” Anderson pledged. “There are a lot of great ideas.”
One activity being planned again is the “Relay Idol,” similar to “Canadian Idol,” with local performers taking the stage.
“It went over really well [last year] so we’ll definitely be bringing that back, as well as some other things that are still in the works,” she remarked.
The committee also is going to choose a theme for this year’s “Relay,” as it has done for the past few years, although it has not yet been decided.
In 2010, the event saw teams highlight a specific country to mark the “Relay Around the World” theme. Last year, teams showcased a particular decade with the “Relay Through the Decades” motif.
“We have had some suggestions already and are tossing some ideas around,” Anderson said, noting anyone who wants to suggest a theme—or any other ideas—can do so on the Facebook group “Fort Frances Relay for Life 2012.”
“We’re hoping to decide soon so the teams can start planning,” she added.
In the meantime, anyone interested in joining the committee or volunteering at the event should attend tomorrow’s kick-off meeting.
“Or if they are interested in joining a team, putting in a team, or registering as a survivor, they should come out,” Anderson stressed, noting information on the Canadian Cancer Society and the “Relay” will be available there, as well as just giving people an idea of what’s involved when you volunteer.
The informal meeting, which begins at 7 p.m., also will see the fundraising co-ordinator for this area coming down from Dryden to do a brief presentation about the “Relay.”
There also will be an opportunity for any questions to be answered.
For more information, call Anderson at 270-4972.
