Wednesday, 10 June 2015

Relay For Life - 2015 countdown

Canadian Cancer Society's signature event

Accept the baton
Still time to sign up for Relay For Life in Woodstock

By Mark Schadenberg
Relay For Life steering committee

The slogan might be 'Accept The Baton', but for the Canadian Cancer Society's (CCS) Relay For Life, the motto could read 'accept the challenge.'
The challenge is to raise money for cancer research projects in an effort to find a cure. The CCS has many additional challenges, however.
Relay For Life in Woodstock is Saturday, June 13, 6 p.m. - midnight at College Avenue Secondary School. Registrations begin at 4 p.m. and dinner is served, beginning at 5 p.m. The infield of the CASS track will still resemble a tent city, but there is no formal numbering and site designations this year.
As can be seen, the format has been modified from previous years, but the challenge remains the same.
“Statistics note that 210 Canadians die every single day from cancer,” notes Jan Cunningham, manager of the Oxford community CCS office.
The CCS in Oxford has about 1,200 volunteers in total, adds Cunningham, many working to make Relay For Life in Woodstock, Tillsonburg (June 6) and Ingersoll (June 19) successful, but the organization also has, for example, 70 volunteer drivers who escort patients to doctors appointment and chemotherapy sessions.

“Relay For Life is the signature event in Ontario for the cancer society,” says Cunningham.
Cancer research is only a small part of where Relay For Life dollars are directed, however, as there is also advocacy and education.
“Cancer prevention is important,” continues Cunningham. “We know that about half of all cancers can be prevented. We encourage screening and early detection too. People can know that our office is there for you to come in and talk to us.”
The CCS office is at 65 Springbank Ave North in Woodstock (519 537-5592) and the national websites of www.cancer.ca www.relayforlife.ca/woodstock are also an integral resource.
Relay For Life in Woodstock is a 6-hour walk this year after previously organized as an all-night walk for participants.
Everybody at Relay this year must register. The fee is $25 if you have not registered by an earlier date, but this includes a meal and entertainment. Survivors, by the way, register for $10.
“There's still time to register,” says Cunningham. “You can register online and set your modest fundraising goal.
“We also value all our volunteers and it's not too late to sign up as a Relay volunteer.”


All participants and volunteers will be fed, so there is a separate sub-committee for the food tent where coordinating for a crowd of more than 500 is complex, but made easier from sponsors Boston Pizza, Swiss Chalet, Pita Hut, Joe's Lunch, No Frills, and of course Tim Horton's.
“It's a challenge organizing the food for such a large group,” says Deb Sutherland. “We have quite a list – our own logistics checklist as we plan our volunteers to set up, pick up supplies, serve the food and of course clean up.”
Sutherland joined the organization of Relay For Life because both her mom and a sister-in-law died from cancer.
“I just wanted to help out. We're all trying to find a cure. Everybody is touched by cancer in some way,” Sutherland says.


Relay For Life also includes a solemn Luminary ceremony at 8:45 to remember those who have passed away from cancer, but also to recognize survivors. Luminaries are $5 and can be purchased online and also at the event.
On stage entertainment keeps the feet moving around the track with well-known local band Green Onions, along with George Straight cover singer Terry Empey among those in the night's lineup.
Relay For Life: Ready? Set. Walk!
Green Onions

LINKS:

LINK TO: Sentinel-Review final promotion story:
http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2015/06/09/relay-for-life-preparations-underway-for-the-2015-event-at-college-ave-secondary-school
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