Cancer Relay for Life Raises Money and Spirits

ALLISTON, Ontario—Hundreds of volunteers gathered in Alliston, Ont. Friday night for a 12-hour, overnight relay aimed at raising money to fight cancer and recognize those who've beaten the disease.

Last year, 117,000 Canadians took part in Relay For Life in 395 events organized by the Canadian Cancer Society at locations across the country. Participants included 32,500 cancer survivors who each ran a "victory lap."

The Canadian Cancer Society describes the relay as "an opportunity to get together with family and friends and celebrate cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost to cancer, and fight back in the hope of finding a cure for this terrible disease."

"Relay is fun, fulfilling, and your participation gives strength to our mission to eradicate cancer," says the Cancer Society's website.

This was the fourth year the relay had come to Alliston, a community in New Tecumseh, roughly 70 km north of Toronto.

Relay participants crowd the track at midnight, Friday night in the 12-hour, overnight event. $142 thousand was raised in the single event, local organizers said. (Jason Loftus/The Epoch Times)

Bob Marrs, one of the organizers, said the event was "certainly a success." Marrs's son was diagnosed with cancer just a month after Marrs became involved with the event four years ago. The event immediately took on a new importance for his family, Marrs said.

"This event brings a lot of awareness, and we have just a phenomenal community here," said Marrs. Including volunteers, more than 800 had joined the event, he added.

On Friday night, sixty teams of close to 10 people each took turns walking or running the track at Brian Gauley Field. Hundreds of candles in white paper bags, each with the name of a cancer survivor – or loved one who lost a battle with cancer – lined the relay course.

Tents covered both sides of the track, where team members taking a break from running or walking rested.

A stage was erected beside the track, and local performers volunteered their time to entertain participants as they walked.

Barrie singer/songwriter Drew Parker was among the local artists who entertained the participants late into the night as they walked or ran. (Jason Loftus/The Epoch Times)

"It's a great event, and we're having a great time," said Hugo Doucet, who attended the relay for the first time with his wife and children.

Last year, the relay raised $43 million nationwide. Marrs said the Alliston event on Friday night had raised $142 thousand.

This year, relays began in May and will continue until the Oct. 17 relay in Prince Edward Island, according to the schedule on the Canadian Cancer Society website.

For information on relays in your area, visit www.cancer.ca/relay.