RELAY FOR LIFE

Tammy MacIssac-Horvath is a cancer survivor, who along with hundreds of others, converged upon the Port Perry Fairgrounds on June 14 for the fourth annual Canadian Cancer Society’s North Durham Relay for Life.

Emotions were understandably high as family, friends and survivors pitched tents, walked, talked and reminisced throughout the evening. Making the lighting of the ‘luminars’ even more dramatic than normal, the heavens opened dropping sheets of rain, while thunder cracked and Scugog experienced one of the wildest lightning shows this summer.
But even this most vicious of storms couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the Relay’s participants. Following is Tammy’s account of the emotional event...

MY HEART ON MY SLEEVE
Sharing smiles and tears a cancer
survivor’s Relay for Life experience

The Canadian Cancer Society’s North Durham Relay for Life is an event many cancer survivors and their loved ones look forward to for many reasons... the kinship and camaraderie shared amongst survivors, the amazing Survivor’s Victory Lap and the emotional ‘luminary ceremony’.

From the moment you arrived you knew this was going to be a special event where everyone was on the same path with the same purpose and all are ultimately there for the same reason… to eradicate cancer.

It’s an event where hearts run on overdrive and are worn on our sleeves. It’s a place where no one feels alone or scared; a place to be joyful and a place where a survivor is celebrated, not pitied; a place where one feels safe to share their stories and their tears and know the person next to you not only understands but has lived it too.

How happy and proud I felt during the survivor’s lap even though I was teary eyed and so moved by the love, support and cheers of the participants lining the track. Forty teams were involved this year, including members of the councils from Scugog, Brock and Uxbridge townships. All endured late evening thundershowers with a smile and sense of humour.

The theme of this year’s event was “Celebrate, Remember and Fight Back”. Each aspect of this theme included a corresponding ceremony; with Fighting Back perhaps being the most empowering aspect of Relay For Life this year. It was a ceremony where participants were encouraged to pledge to make a healthy lifestyle change against cancer. They were then asked to sign a banner in regard to their pledge and take a small flag to serve as a symbol and a reminder of that promise.

This was profound in that it encouraged participants to realize you don’t celebrate, remember and fight back just during the short 12 hours of the relay… it’s really about the hope you take with you and a goal you challenge yourself to achieve everyday.

Relay For Life is an event filled to the brim with smiles and tears, stories and hugs, memories and laughter and a common cause. This year’s event raised more than $90,000 in the fight against cancer. Those that were there for the first time stated it was nothing less than awesome; it really was a magical event for those of us touched by this disease.
If you’ve never been to the Relay For Life, I strongly encourage you to pencil it in for next year, either by entering a team for the inspiring 12 hour relay, becoming a sponsor or dropping by to experience the opening ceremonies and survivor’s victory lap.

I challenge and encourage readers to become involved in this terrific community event. Your support and participation is invaluable and so appreciated. It’s the ultimate pajama party camp-out; filled with bingo, karaoke, a silent auction and much more!

I’m looking forward to seeing you there next year… let’s spend the night together!

by Tammy MacIssac-Horvath
Special to Focus on Scugog