Relay pledges up despite recession

Relay for Life is a 12-hour event held overnight. The reason is cancer doesn’t sleep, nor do the participants.

Kentville’s third annual Relay For Life June 12 kicked off in pouring rain, which didn’t dampen participants’ spirits.

Relay organizers started set-up for the event Friday morning in less than favourable conditions, but the show had to go on.

There were 47 teams registered for this year’s Relay and they have raised to-date $91,353 for the cause, which is an increase in pledges of more than 15 per cent over 2008.

At dusk, the rain broke and the sun shone through to cheering participants, if even for a short while until the sun set. The rain ended and Relay attendees enjoyed a warm night.

There was a lot to keep folks entertained besides the slippery track. The highlight of the evening, which is always a very moving moment, especially if you or a loved one has been touched by cancer, is the Luminary Lighting ceremony. Luminaries circle the track and light the way for participants until morning.

People circle the track quietly reading the names of the survivors they honour and in memory of those they have lost to cancer.

There are plenty of activities to keep participants going until morning. There were several bands playing, face-painting, a scavenger hunt, massages

and much more to do. There was Karaoke from 2-4 a.m. with some terrific talent, and the “Sassy Sistas” were a crowd favourite. At 4 a.m. there was a crazy hat contest and bingo followed.

Morning broke to Tai Chi exercises for those that wished to partake, and then followed up with a wonderful pancake breakfast provided by the local Lions Club.

Closing ceremonies were held at 6:30 am, a full 12 hours after the start of Relay, at which time the teams picked up their gear and dispersed for home. During clean-up, with only a few hours of sleep in the past 24 hours and

still damp from the night before, stacking and carrying a number of heavy tables and well over a hundred chairs, I had a thought that I have survived a lot worse, which is why I’m here today. - Submitted by Ray Savage, cancer survivor