2013 Relay For Lifers Put The Fundraising Pedal To The Metal

May 22, 2013

No one is more pleased with the energy, enthusiasm and efforts of this year’s Central and North Frontenac Relay for Life teams than Lesley Merrigan, chair of this year’s event. “I am in awe of all these people who have made the commitment to raise all kinds of money for the event this year. This year’s teams have taken extra steps and are doing a lot more team fundraisers; they have a lot of new and creative ideas for ways of raising money for the cause,” Merrigan said on May 18 when I spoke to her in Parham, where one event was taking place.

At Hope's General Store, Jessica Quinn, team captain of the 17-member Central Frontenac Station 4 Firefighters team who call themselves “Firefighters Walking For a Cure”, was heading up the BBQ and car wash fundraiser at the parking lot.

Team members washed numerous cars and passed out countless burgers to those in need and wanting to support the cause. Quinn said she has for years been a Relay for Life participant and said that over the years she has lost numerous family members and close friends to the disease.

Photo: Members of team “Firefighters Walking For a Cure” at their 2013 Relay for Life fundraiser event in Parham on May 18

Then the next day, Sunday May 19, members of the team “Timeless Memories” held for the first time a hockey tournament as a fundraiser for their team. The event attracted 25 players from around the community and the all-day event took place at the parking lot at the Frontenac Community Arena. The tournament also included a bake sale and BBQ and the young players went away with a plethora of prizes donated by businesses, organizations and individuals from in and around the community. Janice Conway, the team’s leader, said she was pleased with the turnout. The idea for the event was inspired by a similar fundraiser put on last year by Hinchinbrooke Public School to raise funds for their annual school trip. Lesley Pickard, who is a member of the team said she suggested this kind of fundraiser since it proved to be a popular one at the school.

This year’s 2013 North and Central Frontenac Relay for Life will take place at the Parham fairgrounds on June 21 starting at 7pm and will run until 7am the following morning. New teams can still register up until the Thursday, June 20 deadline. For individuals looking for a team, there is a community team that they can join. To sign up or register a team visit www.relayforlife.ca or contact Lesley Merrigan at 613-279-3144 or Christine Teal at 613-375-6525