Each year the lakecity community joins the honour of celebrating the lives of cancer survivors and all those living with cancer.
“Survivors are the reason we relay,” says Relay For Life chair Leeyann Allan.
This year, the Canadian Cancer Society Relay For Life is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. on May 28 and will wrap-up at 7 a.m. on May 29 at the WLSS track.
It is a day of celebrating and remembering those we’ve lost and fighting back. It is a day of hope.
The Relay For Life begins with the celebration ceremony, as cancer survivors, whether currently in treatment or long-time recovery, join together and walk the first lap around the track to show their strength in numbers.
“Each survivor will receive a yellow T-shirt and will be encouraged to walk one lap around the track. While they walk, a caring community of supporters will be cheering them on and showing their support,” Allan says.
Walking in the survivors’ victory lap allows each survivor to celebrate what they have overcome while inspiring and motivating the relay teams to continue their fight.
A portion of the funds raised at Relay will be used by the Canadian Cancer Society to support survivor programs, such as: lodge accommodations; transportation to treatments; emergency aid; the Cancer Connection program, which matches patients undergoing treatments with cancer survivors who have had a similar type of cancer; and the Look Good Feel Better program for assistance with appearance related side effects from treatments.
“We encourage all cancer survivors, caregivers and family members of survivors to come and share this special event with us.”
For more information about the survivors’ victory lap or to register, call Stephanie at 250-398-5205. Survivors may also register online at www.cancer.ca/relay or in person at the Relay For Life on May 28.