Linda Torkelson named Community Champion for Woodstock's Relay

Norwich-area resident is a breast cancer survivor and dedicated CCS volunteer

Torkelson believes strongly in local initiatives such as Wheels Of Hope volunteer drivers

The Relay For Life committee in Woodstock didn’t have to look too far to find its ‘Community Champion’ for 2017.

A community champion is someone who dedicates many hours as a volunteer, but is also a spokesperson for the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) cause and Linda Torkelson fits both categories.

The Norwich-area resident is a cancer survivor and has been a member of the organizing committee for several years, including as chair of the sub-committee to plan happenings around the survivors’ tent.

Linda Torkelson

As a cancer survivor, Linda has the compassion and empathy to assist anyone at the survivors’ tent and is always very proud to also participate in the survivors’ lap at Relay, which is a walk about camaraderie and conquering cancer, a lap of yellow t-shirts marking the end of the opening ceremony.

The survivors’ tent recently added a noteworthy idea. Various colours of sand representing various types of cancer are poured into a large vase by those in attendance who have defeated cancer. The layered vase is very symbolic.

The empathy role on the survivors’ committee is integral as many participating at Relay For Life are continuing treatments and Linda is quick to supply encouragement.

On Heart FM, Torkelson talked about current CCS educational and volunteer projects on both the national and local level, and looked back at a significant CCS accomplishment.

"Like the Wheels of Hope, driving cancer patients to and from their cancer appointment, the peer support program and also advocacy on the national level. It's amazing, we advocated for a smoke-free workplace and we achieved that, that's a testimony of what Relay For Life is and what the Canadian Cancer Society does," she said. 

You will be able to watch Linda Torkelson on the Rogers TV show Daytime Oxford, by checking out this link: http://rogerstv.com/media?lid=237&rid=15&gid=276985
Here’s Linda’s story. . .

Linda will appear this week on Daytime Oxford on Rogers TV

By Linda Torkelson

Printed with permission.

My life after cancer - After being diagnosed with breast cancer when our daughter was only 10 months old, my life changed or at least was redirected. A new house, new baby and getting back into the work force; these were life changing elements within themselves. Throw cancer into the mix and you have one stunned, emotional, worried new mother, not knowing what is going to happen.
Doctors telling you about your prognosis and options for treatment, a husband that is alarmed, angry and panicked; parents that just want to hold you like you were five; family and friends that are just as stunned and scared, -- all seeking to find the words to console.

Actually, people from all directions were aiming to help in some way.

What will I do? How do I carry on? What's next?
Well, I asked for help; first from God then from my family and friends. If you know me, then you know I can be a little obstinate but this was something that I could not do alone and I think giving people the opportunity to help gave them an ease about the entire diagnosis and how to approach me directly.
I'm not a shy person, or at least not anymore. I have been from the very beginning open about this journey, which I infallibly did not ask or want to travel on, but here I am.

How I approached cancer, head on, would assist how I was going to beat cancer and live with all that it bestowed upon me.
Staying alive is absolute and when something threatens it without your consent, the warrior in you with baring teeth and fists clenched is revealed.

I had a daughter that needed a mother. I was not going to show her what defeat looked like.

I had a husband that needed to know that I was going to be around to help raise her. We had dreams and cancer put a wrench into those but that was not going to break or prevent us from living life.
I didn't know what was in store from one day to the next and grasping for some kind of control can be exhausting. Living a life with purpose and hope -- without fear -- is my goal and I can only pray that others can feel the same way after a cancer diagnosis. I am also not immune to facts that cancer takes lives. I have seen friends and family die from this disease, notably my niece of 35 last September from pancreatic cancer; it devastates. 
The Canadian Cancer Society can give hope; from prevention and awareness to research. From information and support the CCS is there. Call 1-888-939-3333 or visit www.cancer.ca 
Cancer Changes Everything. So Can You.

This is why I Relay.

LINKS: 

http://www.heartfm.ca/news/local-news/community-champion-announced-for-woodstock-relay-for-life/

www.cancer.ca

http://www.cancer.ca/en/support-and-services/support-services/transportation-on/?region=on

Don't Forget

Information Night is Wednesday, May 3

Plan to attend if you would like to #AcceptTheBaton 

and join Relay For Life

Information Night for Relay 2017 is May 3 at CCS office

Cancer survivor Linda Torkelson will be this year's community champion

Relay committee realizes everyone is a volunteer and we say: THANKS!

By Mark Schadenberg

Co-Chair of Relay 2017

Cancer Changes Everything. So Can You.

The provincial slogan for Relay For Life for 2017 is receiving a lot of positive comments, and it should because it’s a statement that truly represents what the consensus is for the most important annual fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS).

The Woodstock committee continues to be very busy in preparing, and at the same time we know the participants, teams and certainly all the team captains are active in efforts to making Friday, June 9 a terrific Relay at CASS high school.

I’m the first one to point out that everyone involved with Relay on June 9 is a volunteer, except maybe for CCS Oxford staff members Jan Cunningham and Pam Noels, but both of them spend countless hours on all CCS initiatives.

Long-time Woodstock committee member and cancer survivor Linda Torkelson is excited to act as Community Champion for 2017. Her story – about diagnosis and cancer treatments, and support she received from family and friends -- will be part of a future blog entry here. Linda is a familiar face at Relay as coordinator for the Survivors’ tent and organizing the activities surrounding the survivors’ lap as part of the Opening Ceremony at 7 p.m. As a Norwich-area resident, Linda has gratefully acted as liaison with Old Theatre Flowers of Norwich to provide the flowers as distributed to the cancer survivors for their walk. Every member of the Woodstock committee is proud to know Linda and looks forward to hearing her story on various occasions as she plans to speak on Rogers TV’s Daytime Oxford and have her story included also in The Sentinel-Review.

Linda Torkelson

As of April 12, there are 20 teams enrolled in Relay. Some of these are returning teams who we love to see every year such as Cargill / Purina, Community 4H club, Vuteq, 7-Eleven, Salvation Army Church, St. David’s United Church, Holy Trinity Church, and the team entry from our title sponsor Western General Insurance. Many other teams are a gathering of family members to recognize a particular person who has died from cancer or has received many treatments and continues in their battle.

INFORMATION NIGHT

Wednesday, May 3, 5:30 – 7 p.m.

In an effort to invite more new participants to Relay, we remind anyone interested in joining the mission to raise funds for Canada’s best cancer research projects, to attend the Information Night on Wednesday, May 3, 5:30 – 7 p.m. at the CCS office at 65 Springbank North.

There will be tons of background info provided on cancer treatments and on-going clinical trials, so you may learn more about funding, but also the story behind luminaries, how to set fundraising goals and recruit team members, and also a list of agenda items for June 9 beyond the luminary ceremony and survivors’ lap. The May 3rd info night is an open house format, so stop if you have been at Relay a dozen times or never, drop by at your convenience and we would love to chat.

Besides Western General as title sponsor, we are so pleased to have many other sponsors and so many which assist in a different capacity such as media (Heart FM), food tent (Boston Pizza, Swiss Chalet, No Frills, Domino’s, Tim Hortons), promotions (Woodstock Print & Litho), and logistics (Allen Lumber, CRS equipment rentals, Vance Construction, City of Woodstock). Also, Kinsdale Carriers returns as the sponsor for the luminary ceremony.

If you would like to volunteer in any capacity, contact the CCS Oxford community office in Woodstock by email or phone. We need to reach our goal of 30 teams. We need to reach or financial goal of $150,000 as a parallel to the Canada150 celebrations. We would love to see you at Relay.

Remember . . . Cancer Changes Everything. So Can You.

Canadian Cancer Society

18th Annual                  Relay For Life

College Avenue Secondary School – Woodstock

Friday, June 9, 7 p.m. – 1 a.m.

www.relayforlife.ca/woodstock

www.relayforlifeontario.ca

www.woodstockrelay.blogspot.com

Facebook ‘Group’: Canadian Cancer Society Relay For Life in Woodstock

Twitter Hashtags: #WhyIRelay #AcceptTheBaton or #ReadySetRelay

CCS Oxford Community Office: 65 Springbank Ave North

(519) 537-5592

Cancer Changes Everything. So Can You

Email Jan at: jcunningham@ontario.cancer.ca

Canadian Cancer Society national lottery offers grand prize of $1 million

Daffodil Daily Lottery will see one car awarded each day during May

50/50 draw, and a Cash For Kids Calendar also part of the program

Relay For Life is a great way to raise important dollars for cancer research as funded by the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS).

If you enjoy buying lottery tickets to gain the chance of possibly winning $1 million, the CCS’s Daffodil Daily Lottery is a large-scale raffle you might be interested in.

You have until April 13 to buy a ticket to be eligible for an early bird draw – 50 prizes of $10,000.

Tickets are $100 each, 3 for $250, 5 for $375 or 8 for $500.

Tickets can be purchased online at https://cancer.lotteryorder.ca/order-step1.aspx

This lottery also includes a secondary Wheels Of Hope 50/50 draw and the pool for that prize is growing and can be seen at www.lottery.cancer.ca

Finally there is a Cash For Kids Calendar lottery as well.

Besides the ‘Super Grand Prize’ of $1 million, the other top prizes include his and her (2) BMW vehicles, a 2017 Porsche and $10,000, a Ford pickup and 2 SeaDoos, and also a prize described as a Travel The World package.

There are daily prize draws every day in May, including many cars. The grand prize winners will be announced on May 31.

All the details are online if you sift through the links below.

Day 5 draw is a Toyota RAV4 as built in Woodstock

LINKS:
www.lottery.cancer.ca

http://lottery.cancer.ca/proceeds.aspx

http://cancer.lotteryorder.ca/view-brochure.aspx

Reminder:

To register for Relay For Life in Woodstock -- set for June 9 at CASS, go to www.relayforlife.ca/woodstock