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Way to go Relay for Life

Wow ... the Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay For Life 2011 has already come and gone, where does the time go?

Wow ... the Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay For Life 2011 has already come and gone, where does the time go?

For my family, 2011 has not gotten off to a particularly great start as I lost my father-in-law to cancer a few months ago.

He was a great dad, granddad and wonderful husband and my family misses him.

I don’t think there is anyone that can say that their lives have not been touched by one form or cancer or another.

Certainly almost everyone that participated in the relay last weekend has a personal story to tell.

Some may have cancer, some may have won the battle against cancer and some have friends and relatives that lost their battles ... whatever the reason the Relay for Life fundraiser has such great support year after year from such a small town.

This year was the fourth year that our community has hosted this fundraising event and it was announced that in total the community has raised over $100,000 for cancer research to date.

This is a phenomenal achievement.

The community again rallied their support for the Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life raising approximately $33,900.

The survivors lap is always a very emotional beginning to the event.

Not only does it serve to honour those that have beaten the odds, but it also gives us all hope.

The Relay for Life officially started in 1985 as a small event and has now grown into a full blown worldwide movement to win the fight against cancer.

Every year millions people participate in Relay For Life in Canada and the Lakes District community band together to show their support year after year.

The weather behaved itself for the most part, although there was a little rain that fell in the afternoon.

When I was concerned about the rain affecting the relay, a very astute 11 year old told me not to worry about the rain as it was simply happy tears from heaven from those who had passed away from cancer. I thought this was such a lovely thought that I had to share it.

It is also wonderful to see relay walkers of all ages out showing their support for the fight against cancer.

Local businesses too, support the relay, either by donating a service or joining the relay as a team.

It is a true community effort. Lakes District News alone donated almost $5,000 to this worthy cause.

Burns Lake and the Lakes District, you should give yourself a big pat on the back for again showing that no matter how small the community, it the amount of caring and compassion that is offered that truly matters.

Once again I am proud to call Burns Lake my home.

Let's hope a cure for cancer is found.