Canadian Cancer Society's Relay For Life participants walked the Innisfail Jr/Sr High School football field in honor of survivors and loved ones during the Fifth Annual Relay For Life on June 20.
Over 60 Innisfail and area citizens walked in support of cancer research to improve detection, diagnosis and treatment of cancer raising $13,200 in the process during an evening which dark clouds and thunder threatened.
“We walk because we care,” said Charlene Carver, chair of the Relay For Life, herself a cancer survivor. “We walk because every step makes a difference.”
The evening was opened at 6:30 p.m. with speeches by local dignitaries such as Doug Bos, deputy mayor for the Town of Innisfail, Federal MP Earl Dreeshen, Provincial Wildrose MLA Kerry Towle, and Cancer Society officials.
“I myself have been touched by cancer,” said Bos of his brush with skin cancer. “Now I am a survivor and this event inspires me.”
The 2014 Canadian Cancer Society Relay For Life ran overnight for 12-hours and involved teams of up to 15 participants who took turns walking or running around a track. The event opened up with a survivors' victory lap with yellow clad cancer survivors taking an inspirational first lap to pay tribute to family members and loved ones led by Innisfail RCMP Const. Chris Lavery and a pipe band.
Carver was pleased with the results.
“Even though our numbers were down, every step and every dollar raised is important,” said Carver. “Our silent auction was successful, but we walked together. With cancer, you never journey alone.”
Dreeshen and his family walked through part of the night.
“For my family, this is a tradition,” said Dreeshen. “This is a way we can give back to the community.”
Innisfail citizen Mike Rieberger was diagnosed with cancer in 2003.
“I was diagnosed, treated, and declared cancer free in2009,” said Rieberger. Now, my family walks with me to give back to the Cancer Society for the help they gave me and the help they will give to others.”
Being a cancer survivor, Carver is passionate when it comes to the relay.
“Being diagnosed with cancer is no longer the death sentence it used to be,” she said. “Currently, 60 per cent of patients diagnosed with cancer survive and that is due in large part to events like this that develop early detection technologies. Cancer is a complicated condition and the sooner it is detected, the better a patient's survival odds.”
