MAXVILLE, Ontario – It was a very successful year this year for the annual Relay for Life. This year’s event raised over $82,000 in Cornwall and SD&G.
It was a beautiful evening on Friday, June 1 at the Maxville Fairgrounds and around 200 people showed up to walk the track, support the survivors and raise funds for cancer research.
There was so much support this year, that the Relay reached its fundraising goal of $50,000 early in the week before the event and then went on to greatly exceed it.
At the event itself, there were the Brigadoons and MacCulloch Dancers to provide music and entertainment, a pizza party for the kids as well as Zumba and meditation.
Cancer survivors kicked off the walk in their yellow shirts, and walked the first lap together. There were at least 30 survivors on hand at the beginning of the Relay.
“I feel great and it is an honour to be here,” said cancer survivor Francoise Brunet. “Everyone is touched by cancer in some way so it is important to go out and show support at events like these.”
“When someone is diagnosed with cncaer the whole family and friends are affected,” said survivor and event MC Ivan Labelle.
Relay teams walked into the night, with their path light by luminaries. Luminaries are paper bags with electric candles inside that have been decorated in memory of a loved one lost to cancer.
The event was sponsored by MacEwen’s Gas, with Chartwell providing the Luminary sponsorship and Dubuc Eyecare serving as the Survivors sponsor.
The Canadian Cancer Society of SD&G is accepting donations for the Relay for Life until June 11. To make a donation, email Community Fundraising Specialist Allison St. Jean at allison.stjean@ontario.cancer.ca.
