LEWISPORTE -
Those people planning on taking part in the 2010 Lewisporte Relay For Life just might enjoy some summer weather this year.
For the first time since hosting the Relay For Life the committee has decided to go with a summer event establishing June 12, from 2 p.m. - 2 a.m., for the annual Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) fundraiser.
After attending the Relay For Life committees first meeting on Feb. 4, CCS Community Resource coordinator Penny Pardy is confident the committee is committed to making the event an enjoyable experience for anyone who takes part.
"We have some new committee members and it seems that they want to incorporate some more team activities into the event, as opposed to just entertainers," said Ms. Pardy. "The committee is a very, very enthusiastic group of people. They are very dedicated to the Canadian Cancer Society and the Relay For Life and they want to keep the relay going for the survivors.
"It's not about how much money we raise, it's about the survivorship and how they want to be there to witness the celebratory experience that survivors get each year as they walk the victory lap."
Last year the Lewisporte event raised $53,000 for the CCS. Although the committee doesn't expect to surpass that amount, Ms. Pardy said the celebration of survivorship is what makes the relay such a success.
"If we had to skip a year, and have it next June, we probably would have lost the momentum of the event," said Ms. Pardy. "So, it's important for teams to come on board now to start their fundraising.
"The registration is being taken care of by committee members at the Lewisporte Scotiabank, so they can certainly contact committee chair Melanie Tucker, myself or contact the Scotiabank branch for that information."
Survivors looking to take part should also contact the Canadian Cancer Society office or Dawn Elliot to register for the Survivor Reception and victory lap at the Lewisporte Lion's Centre, the same day as the relay.
The Relay For Life is a public event and is open to any teams and the general public that want to participate from throughout the region.
"We would like to welcome all the teams back from last year and it there are any new teams or individuals that would like to participate, we certainly encourage the public to get involved," said Ms. Pardy. "I think people should look for new and different things this year. Our committee has a few new faces and there are already some different things planned for the 2010 event."
All money raised through Relay For Life events across Newfoundland and Labrador stays in the province to directly improve services for those fighting cancer.
Anyone interested in volunteering or obtaining further information about the event can contact Ms. Pardy toll-free at 1-866-545-9534.
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