Main reasons why Relay committee members are involved

Research dollars needed to cure cancer

By Mark Schadenberg

It would be quite a party if the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) could announce it had won its battle – a cure for cancer.

Relay For Life in Woodstock on Friday night will celebrate anyway with the 12-hour walk beginning with opening ceremonies at 6:45 at College Avenue Secondary School. Relay will celebrate the many small victories, including recognizing those winning their battle with cancer with the Survivor’s Victory lap at 7 p.m., immediately following the opening ceremony. 

Relay For Life’s local theme this year is Carnival For A Cure and among the activities will be a dunk tank to raise money for CCS.

“At Relay For Life, cancer survivors unite with their caregivers to walk the Survivors’ Victory Lap—the first lap of Relay—while other participants cheer them on. From the long-term to the newly diagnosed, this lap celebrates the lives of the people who have battled cancer and gives strength and courage to those still fighting the disease,” said Josie Atkinson, CCS Oxford unit fundraising coordinator in a press release.

The overall Relay theme continues to be celebrate . . . remember . . . fight back. The 600 (or more) participants will remember family and friends who have passed away from cancer during the Luminary Ceremony at 10 p.m. The track at CASS will be lit up by about 2,000 luminary tea-light candles purchased to both ‘honour’ someone still suffering from cancer or in ‘memory’ of those who died from the disease.

Buy A Luminary

Luminaries can be purchased online at www.relayforlife.ca/woodstock or at many local businesses, or still at CASS on Friday. The format has changed this year as speakers representing each of the 12 months will tell their story and why that particular month is important to them.

Organizers all have personal reasons for getting involved. For Craig Ludington, who volunteers both on the logistics and food tent sub-committees, it was to honour a family member.

“It’s not just about finding a cure,” says Ludington. “It’s about all the emotional support, and it’s about the drives (volunteer drivers) for treatment, and all the literature and information. That’s why I continue to support Relay.”

Ludington explained it was first the diagnosis of an uncle, and later over the past 10 years, his dad’s battle with cancer.

“If anyone has never seen it before, they should go to the luminary ceremony,” continued Ludington, who is owner of Woodstock Print & Litho, which supplies sponsorship signage seen around the CASS track and also hosts a major fundraising barbecue.

The Relay accounting department – balancing the money submitted from the various teams – is coordinated by volunteer Sandy Smith, who witnessed her dad’s battle versus cancer.

Treatments Are Tailored 

“He received treatment for 10 years. After 10 years, the research advances made the treatment light years better. There is improved meds and improved chemotherapies. I could see how the treatments were tailored to him.

“Every dollar spent on research is leading to more improvements in care.”

Smith says the strength and dedication of the local CCS unit, volunteers and Relay participants has kept her involved year after year.

“We live in an amazing community and we receive a lot of support from this community.”

Reasons to be involved in Relay For Life are as varied as the number of participants. Among my reasons, is my step-father losing his battle with cancer just one day after my daughter was born. I remember John VanVeen and celebrate his life with a luminary around the CASS track. I fight back, by participating in Relay For Life.