Cancer doesn’t sleep, and neither will the participants of the 10th Red Deer Relay For Life on June 3 starting at 7 p.m.
The 12-hour overnight relay consists of teams who can set up tents, take part in events, and enjoy live entertainment until the sun rises the following morning.
“Some people just come out because they like the bands that are playing; the public can come down to watch through the night,” said Jen Dore, co-chair for the Red Deer Relay for Life.
This year’s event will be held at the CrossRoads Church and has already raised nearly $110,000 just in online funds. Last year’s event raised $286,000 in total.
Something unique to Red Deer, said Dore, is the fact that for every dollar raised, 91 cents of it goes to the Canadian Cancer Society. Only nine cents is required to fund the event per dollar.
“People are happy to know that the money raised in Central Alberta stays in Central Alberta, it doesn’t leave the province.”
Teams are to consist of 10 members and can be registered any time during the year, so if people are looking to take part in next year’s event they can go online and do so now.
Participants younger than 16 need to have a parent present at the event and over that age they require permission form. Volunteers also have the same requirements.
Luminaries, or candles, can be purchased to line the track or be a part of the spelling of the word ‘hope.’ Each luminary is in a paper bag on which a dedication for a specific person can be written.
The luminaries are $5 and can be purchased online with a memoriam to a loved one. The ceremony will start at 9:45 p.m. this year on the Friday.
“You get warm fuzzies when you come to Relay. People love the luminary ceremony and people come just to watch that.”
Before the teams start to walk, registered survivors take a walk around the track to show that they have fought, and won, against cancer.
This year the event has 100 registered survivors who will take their victory lap to kick-start the event. Along with the survivors, there are 51 teams, averaging 10 members each, and 125 volunteers involved in the event.
This year, the Red Deer Relay for Life has a lot to offer including live bands, theatre, a magician, a face painter as well as local radio stations participating and entertaining.
“We would just like the public, if they don’t know what Relay is about to come down and even just see what it’s like.”
For more information, or to donate, visit www.cancer.ca
kpalardy@reddeerexpress.com
