The sky was grey and the air was cold, but nothing could dampen the sprits of those who took part in the 2012 edition of the Maxville Relay for Life.
Smiles and laughter could be heard throughout the fairgrounds in North Glengarry as hundreds gathered to pay hommage to those who have succumbed to cancer, and honour those who have vanquished the dreaded disease.
Stephane Bedard, a survivor of testicular cancer, was waiting among of sea of yellow shirts to enter the fairgrounds for the traditional survivor's walk when he suggested more events like the Relay for Life are helping to defeat cancer.
"If we can continue to have things like this, we are getting the funds we need for more reasearch," said Bedard. "It feels really good to see all these yellow shirts."
Diane Roy has battled breats cancer and won. She said taking part in the Relay for Life comes with a great deal of emotion.
Many people were wiping away tears as the survicors paraded around the track at the fairgrounds.
"This is very touching," said Roy, who lost her sister Joannne Vendugo to breats cancer. "It's so wonderful to see so many people here taking part."
More than $380,000 was raised at the event which has become one of the chief fundraisers for the local Canadian Cancer Society office.
Check out more photos of the event in a slideshow on our homepage.
