The 2011 kickoff event for Relay for Life, held Feb. 12 at the City Centre Mall, was a success, with 12 teams signing up for the April 30 relay on the first day.
"Relay for Life is a fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society," explains event chairperson Donna Wilson. "We honour our survivors there. It's a tribute to survivors and those that we've lost. We're raising money so that we can find a cure."
This year sees some changes for Relay for Life - for the first time, it's a day later, and it starts a couple hours earlier "It's always been on a Friday in Thompson," says Wilson. "We've switched it to a Saturday - April 30. It always started at 7 p.m., and this year we're starting earlier, at 5. Last year we asked people for suggestions to make Relay better, and people said they wanted to see it start earlier and end earlier."
"We're just starting to take registration now," she continues. "It's a good idea to register early, because Calm Air is our number one supporter, and they will give the top two fundraisers a free return flight to Winnipeg."
"This year we're trying to encourage people that are on teams - it's great to go out on pledges, but if you want to hold a bake sale, or sell jewelery, you can do that," adds Wilson. On the day of the kickoff, City Centre Mall was full of Relay teams selling goods for fundraising, with several booths down the main aisle.
Groups are encouraged to register together, but individuals can sign up as well, and be placed with a group looking to round out its roster with one or two extras.
In 2010, Thompson's Relay for Life raised $93,000 - up by $10,000 from the previous year. Money collected from Relay for Life goes to the Canadian Cancer Society to help fund research, provide information and support services for people living with cancer and to advocate for public policies that reduce cancer risk and help people living with the disease.
Started in 1985 by Dr. Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon in Tacoma, Washington, the Relay for Life was first held in Canada in 1999, when it raised $85,000. By 2008, there were 451 Relay for Life events across Canada, with over 200,000 Canadians participating on 18,883 relay teams, which included 36,415 cancer survivors. It is a non-competitive overnight relay with teams of 10 people walking or running around a track.
"Everybody knows somebody who's been affected by cancer," notes Wilson.
