by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
WHITEWATER REGION — Cindy Giroux of La Passe is honoured to receive an Ontario Impact Award from the Canadian Cancer Society.
She was recently presented with the Ontario Division’s Celebrating Relay for Life – Leadership Award by Roger Martin, manager of the Pembroke office of the Canadian Cancer Society.
“I was surprised,” she said. “I had no idea I was even nominated.”
The presentation occurred at the official launch of this year’s Renfrew County Relay for Life.
“Roger pulled the surprise off,” Ms. Giroux said, adding, “He figured the media launch was the time to do it.”
Ms. Giroux said it is quite an honour to be the recipient of this award.
Ms. Giroux was team recruitment chairperson for the four Whitewater Relay for Life, all of which have been held on the ball diamond in Beachburg.
However, this year, the relay for life has moved to the Pembroke Memorial Centre and will be a combination of the two held between Petawawa and Whitewater Region. Ms. Giroux is this year’s chair of the Renfrew County Relay for Life.
“Financially, it’s better to have one big one than two small ones,” she said.
Ms. Giroux became involved with the relay for life because “I wanted to do something for all the friends and family I’ve lost to cancer.”
Since then, it’s evolved into so much more, she said. People are surviving, because of relay for life and other fundraisers the cancer society does, because of the research it can do.
Ms. Giroux said she didn’t become involved in the relay for life for recognition.
“When Roger was first telling me about it, I thought it was from the community office,” she said. “After I read the letter myself, I realized it was a provincial award.
“I was very humbled,” she said. “I don’t like being in the spotlight.
“To have them nominate me and then be chosen, it truly is a pretty big honour for me.”
This year, Ms. Giroux went to the Relay Summit in Toronto.
“I didn’t realize all the things the cancer society does besides research,” Ms. Giroux said. “They run so many programs.”
The programs include Cancer Information Service; CancerConnection.ca; Smokers Helpline; provide brochures and booklets; Peer Support Service; Wheels of Hope; Cancer.ca and Community Services Locator.
“The Wheels of Hope program, the amount of rides they have offered to cancer patients, it’s truly incredible the amount of kilometres put in every year,” Mr. Giroux said.
The Cancer Connect program, which is available throughout Canada, connects people with those who have been through the diagnosis before, she said.
Since returning from Toronto, Ms. Giroux has a new focus regarding the relay for life.
“I still do it to remember the people whom I’ve lost to cancer and to support the people who are going through it, but my main focus is to make people everywhere aware of what the cancer society offers,” she said.
Her mother-in-law is now going through cancer treatments. Ms. Giroux said she had kidney cancer 17 years ago and then went into remission. However, three years ago, the cancer returned and for the last two years, has undergone various surgeries and treatments.
Ms. Giroux has only been involved in relay for life with the Canadian Cancer Society.
“If I say I’m going to do something, I try to do my very best at it,” Ms. Giroux said, adding with a laugh, “All my friends, and everybody I know, know this time of year I go into relay for life mode. I talk about it a lot.”
Ms. Giroux said if anyone is interested in finding out about Relay for Life, send her an email and she’ll come and talk to you, even in a group setting.
A team in the relay for life can have as little as two people to as many as the team wants, she said.
This year’s relay for life is June 22 for six hours, 6 p.m. to midnight, at the PMC. The ice surface floor will be where the group sites are set up and the walking will be done on the upper platform, she said.
This year’s theme is television shows and movies, such as Friends.
The luminary ceremony is going to be beautiful, with the luminaries set on the upstairs railing, she said.
Ms. Giroux is hopeful of 30 teams this year from across the county, noting 12 have already registered.
“I’d like to see one team from every area in the county,” she said. “I’ve set a pretty big goal for myself, but this is the only one in Renfrew County, besides the youth in Arnprior and Renfrew.”
While Ms. Giroux admits it is disappointing the relay for life is not being held in Whitewater Region, she understands the reasons for it.
The reason for having only one relay for life in the county is due to the falling numbers, Ms. Giroux said. It made more economical sense to bring everyone together in one place, she said. In Whitewater, the the first relay saw 30 teams — that dropped down to less than half last year, she said.
Registration per person is $15, and $5 off if you use the promotional code 5OFF.
Those who are 12 and younger register for free, as long as they are with an adult group, she said.
The fundraising goal is $150,000, which, if she reaches her participant goal, is for each person to raise a minimum of $150, Ms. Giroux said.
Registration is now open and people can register at relayforlife.ca/renfrewcounty. If you have questions, you can also email Ms. Giroux, [email protected]
She encourages everyone to listen to MyFM 104.9, which is the media sponsor, starting next Monday, because there is an incentive to register next week.
