There’s a very good reason why the annual Relay for Life starts in the evening and continues through the night.
“Cancer never sleeps,” says Charlene Bouvier, the organizer of the event that benefits the Canadian Cancer Society.
This will be the fourth year that the relay has been held at the Fowler Athletic Track. Teams of survivors and supporters take turns walking the relay from late evening and through one of the shortest nights of the year as candles line the inside of the track to light the way and to give the walkers inspiration.
So far there are eight teams registered, just about half of what rose to the occasion in 2012. Last year, 119 participants on 17 teams raised more than $61,000. In total, this one event in St. Albert has brought in around $170,000 over the last three years.
In Alberta, that figure was $5 million for last year alone. Nationwide, nearly 32,000 volunteers helped guide more than 170,000 participants to bring in $51 million to support the cancer charity.
There’s only one aspect of the relay that Bouvier promises will improve come this June.
“This year, no rain,” she pledged. “Last year was a challenge and we are not going to have that again. We’re going to have nice weather again this year.”
She added that it was another triumph of the human spirit that so many people stayed undeterred through an unseasonable downpour that dampened some spirits.
“They were like ‘No, we’re not going. It’s the least we can do.’ It was great.”
Because of this early prediction of good weather, she wants to do all she can to start building momentum early. Now that it’s spring – at least by the calendar – she has raised the trumpet to get more and more people to start building their teams now.
She is also looking for new volunteers, sponsors, and survivors, whose part is especially important. Much of the relay is about remembering those who lost their battles but it’s a great sign of encouragement to walk along with those who have won or are still fighting their battles.
“It’s such an amazing experience not just for us participating but for the survivors too. We’re there to honour them too,” she said.
The fourth annual Relay for Life event is set to take place at the Fowler Athletic Track between Sir Alexander Mackenzie and Richard S. Fowler schools. It runs from 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 8 to 7 a.m. on Sunday, June 9.
To learn more about the event or to register, please call Amanda Race at 780-437-8419, visit www.relayforlife.ca or e-mail [email protected].
