Woodstock Relay For Life: Relay Kickoff is set for Wednesday, March 1

Quality Hotel & Suites is site for annual rally to promote this year's event

Our fundraising goal for the year of Canada 150 is: $150,000

By Mark Schadenberg

Relay Kickoff is Wednesday March 1, 5-7 p.m. at Quality Hotel & Suites in Woodstock.

Relay For Life is Friday, June 9, beginning at 7 p.m. at College Avenue Secondary School.

With those two dates established, now is the time to reveal more news about this year’s Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) major annual fundraiser locally.

After about 7 or so years on the organizing committee, I’m taking on the task of being a co-chair this year.

Last year’s co-chairs Sandy Smith and Deb Moss are still certainly on the committee, so the transition and communications will be smooth. Smith and Moss, by the way, are leading the group of food tent conveners and are already in discussion with Boston Pizza on returning, and many other food in-kind sponsors. Watch this space for many updates on sponsors as Relay For Life appreciates the support it receives from many businesses.

If you’re wondering who the other co-chair is, well . . . drum roll please.

Don McKay has agreed to assist in a significant capacity this year. McKay has an extremely extensive and impressive resume, which includes long-time mayor of East Zorra Tavistock township (since 2004), former warden of Oxford County Council, and owner of the store YFM (Your Family Market), which is essentially an outdoor fresh produce market next to Home Hardware during the non-snow months of the year. Also, in the last federal election, McKay ran under the Liberal Party banner. Don McKay was also an informative speaker at the opening ceremony in 2015.

Don McKay. In the background is Jan Cunningham

Many other familiar faces continue in event organizing including CCS Oxford community office manager Jan Cunningham, along with Pam Noels or Kelly Jorgensen. The committee itself continues a strong fabric with Marie Bowerman, Maartje VanWely, Linda Torkelson, Tracy VanVliet, Ryan Noels and Mary Ann Hogan.

Every three years or so, the CCS introduces new sell lines or slogans. Many participants, including myself, always liked: ‘Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back.’ That particular slogan was essentially retired about four years ago and replaced with variations on: Ready? Set. Relay! . . . or Ready? Set Walk!

Additional promotional words have included: It’s A Journey. Go The Distance! or Accept The Baton! All those lines are still fine for promoting Relay For Life, but the new tag line is: “Cancer Changes Everything. So Can You.’ The premise is that if you or a family member receives a cancer diagnosis there is certainly a major shift in your lifestyle, but the CCS is there to assist in your journey. On the serious side of discussions, the CCS is there for advocacy and even with a volunteer driver to assist in transportation to a medical appointment. Fitting in the category on an under-statement, battling cancer is a ‘defining moment’ in your life.

Pictured: Mark Schadenberg, Sandy Smith and Deb Moss

GOALS AND ASSISTS

The Canada 150 theme will be seen everywhere in 2017, so you will see it as part of our theme and goals for this year’s Relay For Life.

The goal for overall fundraising will mirror Canada 150 as it’s $150,000. Last year, $146,000 was the final tabulation.

The registration goal is 150 x 2 or 300. Last year, there were 310 registered contributors. As a quick point of clarification, that is 310 people who signed up and paid a registration fee and collected pledges and donations. Relay For Life continues to invite cancer survivors and their caregivers to participate, especially in the survivors’ lap at 7 p.m. and not all of the people in this group are necessarily registered participants.

Many agenda items will remain unchanged. For example, the cost of a luminary has never changed in 17 years of Relay . . . always $5 to honour someone who has survived cancer or to recognize someone who has died from the disease. The luminary ceremony will again be held around dusk, and is always the most somber and thought-provoking moment of the entire night.

The night’s activities will include theme laps, a children’s tent with games, team pictures, dinner and refreshments for all participants, live bands, and countless opportunities to share your stories with friends and team members.

Teams

Our local committee would like to promote the idea of attaining a team goal of 30 entries this year, but we also firmly believe that a team can be you and your friends across the street for a total of four, or you can register a group of 25 if you can recruit a large number of pals, co-workers, fitness club friends, volleyball teammates, card night companions, hobby buddies (your stamp collecting club perhaps), and church parishioners.