by Connie Tabbert
Editor
BEACHBURG — $75,486.
That’s how much money was raised by Saturday morning, the end of the 2015 Whitewater Relay for Life. It’s expected more money will trickle in over the next few weeks.
The event was held on the Beachburg Fairgrounds, with most of the 29 teams set up with tents on the ball diamond.
Angie McCutcheon, a co-chair of the event, said there were a couple of teams less this year than last, but then some of the teams were larger this year.
“I think we were on par with the number of participants,” she said.
There was no goal as to how much money they wanted to raise this year, but were hoping to be close to last year, Ms. McCutcheon said. Last year the goal was $30,000 and about $83,000 was raised.
“We were thrilled with the results,” she said.
As for this year, they’re just as happy, she added.
For anyone who has not attended a Relay for Life, it’s a 12-hour event, most running from 7 p.m. on one evening and ending at 7 a.m. the next morning.
The event is made up of teams, and they can be dressed up in various costumes, or just everyday clothes, but the one thing that must occur, is that there should be at least one person from each team on the track at all times.
Ms. McCutcheon noted there are also events throughout the night, such as games, as well as entertainment.
“It was a very action-packed night,” she said.
To start the evening off, there were opening ceremonies, which included the reading of the Canadian Cancer Society’s Mission Statement, which was done in English by Lisa Bradbury and in French by Jeanelle Romain.
Ginny Robinson was the Master of Ceremonies.
“We’ve come to Beachburg today for our different reasons and also for the same reason,” she said, adding, “because an estimated 131,300 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in Canada this year, and an estimated 76,600 Canadians will lose their lives.”
Sharon Neff was the honourary survivor and relayed her story of surviving breast cancer. (Her story is online at www.whitewaternews.ca.)
She said it’s great to see the community come together for such an event, but it would not be possible without supporters, such as Beach-West Pharmacy IDA, Dunbar Home Inspections, Scotiabank, Jamieson Travel, SunSign Graphics and Star 96. There are many other sponsors as well, which were recognized on the Supporters Sign.
Several supporters were called to the stage and thanked with a handshake.
To conclude the opening ceremonies, cancer survivors and their caregivers were invited to the track, which is where everyone would walk throughout the night.
As the survivors went one way the caregivers went in the opposite direction, only to meet in the centre and begin walking the same way the cancer survivors were going.
For anyone who has not seen this event, it can be very emotional, noted Ms. McCutcheon in an earlier interview.
Then, sisters Theresa Giroux and Louise Lafrance, carrying the banner Families Fighting Back, led all the participants in a few laps around the track.
Then, it was time to enjoy the event, whether it be strolling around the track, socializing, participating in the games or even sleeping.
