The First Lady of Relay

Lesley Merrigan | Jun 11, 2015

In June 2011, I shared the stage at Relay For Life with an amazing leader; a lady who had the determination to accomplish anything that came into her mind. It was on that stage that I first thanked her for bringing Relay For Life to our area and for showing our community, participants and volunteers alike, how it’s done. I said at that event, that without Claire Macfarlane, there would be no Relay For Life at the Parham fairgrounds. She is now, and will forever be, the First Lady Of Relay For Life North & Central Frontenac.

Claire was not new to volunteering as I was back then. She played numerous roles with the Canadian Cancer Society dating back to 1994. She was a residential campaign canvasser, community services chair, transportation coordinator, volunteer coordinator, volunteer driver as well as the Chair of Relay for Life from inception in 2007. And these positions overlapped each other. She had a way of knowing how to get things done.

In 2009, a friend said, “I could use your help on the Relay committee” and of course I signed up. My first impression was that Claire must be a self-employed business woman because she led her group in a very organized “time is valuable” way. Everyone was very task oriented and the meeting ran like a well-oiled machine. I was impressed that we were going to pull off this fantastic event in Parham with a budget of exactly $0.

But what an event it was! I had participated on a team the year before but being on the committee had a new set of demands. There were moments I thought I wouldn’t be able to make it, and I was the event MC!!! I had to dig really deep to find the energy to finish. Finally, Claire made the announcement that our efforts had raised over $65,000. She was beaming. No matter what the total, her face said it all. It was the face of someone who had accomplished something to be proud of and she shared that accomplishment with each of us. I felt it then, and I always feel it when I am at Relay For Life. The feeling that a small community of 6500 plus, can come together, walk together, share their stories, share their fears and at the end of the day, feel empowered by giving. This was what Claire wanted. She wanted us all to come together to support each other and empower each other. I have been with the event ever since.

When Claire asked if I would be co-chair with her, I asked what I had to do and she said my most important task was to “pay attention”. I tried my best. As we went through planning the 2011 event I made it my mission to learn everything I needed to in order to continue this event in our area. She taught me the importance of delegation and team work as well as attention to detail. She reinforced my life motto, as in “It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission”. She showed me how to rally people and get them excited about helping. But mostly, she encouraged me when things got stressful. She told me that things will always work out the way they are supposed to. And she was right of course.

In early 2013 I got the news that my friend and fellow cancer fighter had the disease that we had fought so hard against. It didn’t seem possible to me. And even if she did, there was no doubt in my mind that she would beat it. That year, our leadership team attacked our tasks with new found energy and vigor. We invited Claire to be our survivor speaker for 2013 and we also started “Claire’s Caped Cancer Crusaders- A community team” that welcomes any and all members to relay. In her survivor address, Claire spoke of the “Why Me” thoughts that she had through her battle with cancer; and that she never thought that she would attend Relay as a Survivor.

In 2013, Relay For Life North & Central grossed the highest amount of fundraised money -$72,000.

Well Claire, because of you, many people have attended Relay as survivors for a lot longer than they could have without you. Our little Relay For Life community has raised a little better than $406,000 since 2007, when there was a little lady with a plan and a deep-seated love to help others. Claire, I will miss your emails of encouragement especially on the morning of June 20, when I start my last Relay For Life as Chair. My team and I will try our best to do you proud. We will miss your smiling face this year and in the years to come. Thank you for bringing Relay For Life to us and for your dedication to finding a cure. Every ride to treatment in this area, every supportive call that is made and every dollar raised from our community through this event is because of you. You will never be forgotten, my friend.

(Editor’s note: Claire Macfarlane-England sadly passed away at Perth Hospital on May 20, 2015, with her family by her side. The North & Central Frontenac Relay for Life will take place on Saturday June 20 from noon to midnight at the Parham fairgrounds)