RELAY FOR LIFE

Cancer survivors walk a lap around track in 2008.

In less than two weeks Relay For Life North Durham embarks on its annual fun-packed event, where the community is encouraged to join and experience all things ‘Relay’.

Aim to arrive by 7 p.m. for the opening ceremonies at which more than 600 participants will be welcomed to this amazing, life-changing event. Together they will celebrate all cancer survivors and remember those we’ve lost to this vicious monster.

Teams of 10 or more will set up a tent city, complete with costumes, banners and themed campsites - feel free to tour the sites and talk to the participants as they share with you ‘why they relay.’

Most often, we ‘Relay’ because our lives have been touched by this dread disease. We’ve either lost someone, nearly lost someone or we ourselves have been diagnosed. Other participants are there because they want to support their community and help raise awareness.

The emotional luminary lighting ceremony.

‘Relay For Life’ is an event where everyone can share stories, photos and smiles, hugs, laughter and tears and know the person next to you ‘gets it’ because they too have been affected by the big ‘C’.

‘Relay’ is the biggest and best pyjama party you’ll ever attend... with terrific events planned each hour, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

How about dancing under the stars to one of the best local rock cover bands around - enjoy ‘Story Time’ with Neil Crone... or watch heads shaved on stage with your local municipal council representatives.

And you won’t want ot miss ‘Relay Idol’ - where each team tries their best to perform a song, and then there’s sunrise bingo, Zumba dance classes, and a silent auction.
Ms. Relay competition, (just for men), where they get to don the high heels and a dress and prance around the track! There is a children’s activity area, Lick’s hamburgers, great coffee, a cancer ‘smart shop’ where you can pick a relay t-shirt, keychain or other merchandise.

Relay for Life also has three distinct ceremonies which truly define who we are, what we do and why. At 7 p.m. cancer survivors are celebrated, wearing yellow t-shirts as a message of hope and empowerment, as they open the relay by taking the first lap as they share their victory over cancer!

The emotional luminary ceremony takes place at 10 p.m. as each luminary candle is lit, lining the track with the glow of bittersweet memories as a piper plays in the cool evening air... a time where we can pause to remember those we’ve had to say goodbye to because of cancer... their names are read and their photos can be shown on our large screen.

This moment is one you will never forget. The ‘Fight Back Ceremony’ takes place at 5 a.m. as dawn breaks - to recognize that the sun will once again rise for all those affected by cancer... a moment where we each pledge to make a positive change in our lives that directly combats this disease.

Relay for Life can’t be just a 12 hour event because cancer is not just a 12 hour event, as much as I wish it was. It’s something you need to carry with you 365 days a year... the message, the hope, the commitment.

I ‘Relay’ because I am here, and because I can. I ‘Relay’ because I am a survivor, a wife, a mother, a sister, a daughter, a friend. I ‘Relay’ for my mother who I lost way too soon to this disease.

If not me, who? If not now, when? Join me and hundreds of others from our community for a night you won’t soon forget.

Mark you calendars for Friday, June 12 and I’ll see you at the Sunderland Fairgrounds.

By Tammy Horvath
Special to Focus on Scugog