By David F. Rooney
With names like Wright Cause, Dazzling Divas, Team Dub, Farmer Savers and Team RBC they almost sound like teams enrolled in the Glacier Challenge, but they’re not — they are the men and women in the Canadian Cancer Society’s annual Relay for Life, which began promptly at 10 am Sunday.
This year’s teamsare striving to raise about $14,000 for cancer research. During this non-competitive event, people take turns walking or running laps around a track for 12 hours. Each team is asked to have at least one team member on the track at all times throughout the event. Relay participants commit to raising a minimum of $100 for the Canadian Cancer Society. The average participant in British Columbia and Yukon raises $335.
“We are a movement… we are the hope,” said Bob Loeppky, who spoke at the opening of the annual event.
Moments later the Revelstoke Highland Pipe Band led dozens of cancer survivors on the traditional survivors’ lap past two rows of Dragon Boaters saluting with their paddles.
“As we gather to honour our survivors it’s also appropriate to honour our care-givers,” and Loeppky called on everyone who has cared for a cancer patient to take their own lap around the field at Mountain View School.
Here are a few more images from the Relay for Life:
