Claire Macfarlane | Oct 07, 2010


What if you had the power to fight cancer head-on and passed it by? Join the biggest cancer event to make the biggest difference. Survivors, volunteers and participants in Sharbot Lake will meet at the Parham Ball Field – in teams of 10 fighters – for the Canadian Cancer Society’s signature fundraising event, Relay For Life; during this 12-hour overnight relay they’ll take turns walking, running or strolling around a track. And with each step, they’ll fight for loved ones and for themselves, for the present and for the future.

The money Relay For Life raises helps fight cancer by:

doing everything we can to prevent it from ever happening in the first placefunding research to outsmart cancerempowering, informing, supporting and improving the quality of life for Canadians living with cancer

This week alone, another 3,300 Canadians are expected to be diagnosed with cancer. We need your help to stop cancer in its tracks. Cancer research funded by the Canadian Cancer Society is only possible because of donors and the support of volunteers. Sadly, every year, approximately 80 per cent of research applications go unfunded because there simply aren’t enough donations.

Become a fighter

The Canadian Cancer Society Relay For Life is more than just a fundraiser – it’s a unique and unforgettable way to pick a fight against cancer. It’s an opportunity to get together with family and friends to celebrate cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost to cancer and to fight back against all cancers.

“Relay For Life is both a meaningful and fun event. It’s about survival and it’s for anyone who has been or will be touched by cancer. As any past participant will tell you, it’s also life changing – that’s why we have fighters who return year after year,” says Sandra Harris, the Director of Relay For Life for the Canadian Cancer Society in Ontario. “It’s so important for people to understand that just 12 hours of their time can add years to the lives of others.”

We are looking to bring Relay For Life back to the Sharbot Lake area in 2011 after a one-year hiatus. It will feature all of the elements that participants have come to know and love over the years – like the Survivors’ Victory Lap where a large group of cancer survivors leads the way around the track as a celebration of courage and strength. This inaugural lap gives hope and inspiration to those who are still fighting cancer and to everyone who has been touched in some way by this terrible disease.

Another special moment during every Relay takes place at twilight when hundreds of luminaries – candles placed in special bags – light up the night. Each bag bears the name of a cancer survivor or someone who has lost the battle with cancer. The luminaries provide light and motivation to participants throughout the night.

At dawn, participants pledge to continue to fight against cancer during the inspiring Fight Back ceremony, which commits to celebrating, remembering and fighting back 365 days a year.

Help us Bring Relay For Life back!

Relay For Life is Canada’s biggest cancer fundraiser and everyone’s opportunity to make a personal contribution, take action and fight back against a disease that touches too many lives. It’s an unforgettable experience. If you are interested in helping to organize the 2011 event please contact Claire Macfarlane at 613-279-1133. Your support is greatly appreciated.

 

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