Relay For Life is not just about finding a cure; it’s about supporting the people who have survived cancer or been touched by it in some way, and the second annual event in Athabasca did just that last Friday.
The event found friends and family of both cancer survivors, and those who have lost their lives to the devastating disease, make their way to the Athabasca Regional Multiplex and Athabasca University grounds for the 12-hour relay walk.
A total of 16 teams signed up this year with just over 140 people participating in the event, which raised money for the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS).
The event kicked off with a special dinner for all the survivors at the multiplex.
The survivors then took the first lap of the relay to a raucous applause from all the onlookers and team members who came out to participate in the event.
Participants had an opportunity to purchase a luminary fire-resistant bag and write a special personal message on it. Just as the sun was beginning to set, the relay was paused for a moment and the Remembrance Ceremony took place in the Rotary Field House where all the luminaries were placed around the track. The luminaries and the ceremony helped to honour those who have lost their battle with cancer and those who have fought and continue to fight for their lives while providing light and inspiration to participants as they walked throughout the rest of the night.
One of the survivors who came out to the event was Tim Buckland from Edmonton who, at the young age of only 26, has survived two bouts of testicular cancer to find his way into remission.
Buckland said it was important for him to come out to the event because he feels that sharing his story will help to encourage other young people to get checked out because despite what many think, there is no age limit on who cancer affects.
“As a survivor myself, it’s really nice to see this kind of support from communities for people who have had cancer and gotten through it, and it’s important for me to go out and speak to people about cancer and what it can do to someone,” Buckland said. “Being diagnosed isn’t a death sentence right away, but it’s about taking the right steps after. I especially want younger people to know that cancer can affect anyone and the first step is to go see a doctor, because we aren’t invincible as much as we’d like to think so.”
This year’s Relay For Life helped to raise not only awareness about the disease but also close to $50,000 in funds to give to the CCS. The Athabasca Relay is still accepting online donations until the end of July at http://convio.cancer.ca.
As the Relay closing ceremonies took place on June 16, Alberta Minister of Health Fred Horne came out to show his support and appreciation for all those who participated in the event.
“The Relay For Life is something that happens almost everywhere, but to see so many people come out to the event in such a small community is outstanding,” Horne said. “The financial support raised from the event is tremendous and tells us just how many people are really affected by cancer in some way in the community. It brings communities together and inspires more research and involvement and a bigger commitment for finding a cure. It’s just remarkable the kind of support that Athabasca has shown.”
