The Saugeen Times

Relay for Life

Health and Fitness

Alec Horning (8) leads the relay a day after returning from treatments

Mayor Mike Smith and daughter, Becky

It was nothing short of amazing to look out over the sea of people who had come together in the first ever Relay for Life held in Saugeen Shores on Friday June 26th through to Saturday, June 27th.

The event, held at Saugeen District Secondary School (SDSS), began with am emotional speech by Heather Gowanlock, whose husband died of a cancerous brain tumour in March of 2008, and she herself was also diagnosed with two cancers ... one of the eye (the possiblity of which is 1 in 1 million) and a right lung tumour, both of which she has been receiving treatment for.

Gowanlock's advice was to be an advocate for your own health. "No one knows your own the way that you do." She also expressed her appreciation for the health care system. "I am so thankful for the system we have and the doctors and nurses into whose hands we put our lives. Cancer has changed me and has helped me re-align my priorities."

The stories were many and many tears were shed, but it was also a positive experience filled with camaraderie.

The response to the relay was, what was described by the organizers as being, incredible. The Canadian Cancer Society initially advised the group of volunteers that, given this was the first relay in Saugeen Shores, that they shouldn't set their hopes too high and should expect, perhaps, 20 relay teams at most.

Saugeen Shores had 56 teams register, over 250 volunteers and even more walkers who simply came out to take part. The 'luminaries (candles purchased for $5 to be lit in memory of cancer survivors or those who have passed on) count was at 669 at 7:00 p.m. and by the time of lighting at 10:00 p.m. the number had doubled to over 1,200.

Most participants stayed the night in tents, campers and RVs so that they could continue walking throughout the night.

When the event was over the next morning at 6:30 a.m., more than $150,000 had been raised with more money continuing to come in, so that a final grand total is not expected until some time this week.