Reasons aplenty to be involved in Relay
This is the Page 4 story in The Sentinel-Review from June 13 edition:
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.
Luminary Ceremony at 10 p.m.
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.
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.
“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.”
Fondly Remembering
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.
