Relay For Life 2005
Relay For Life 2005
The theme was hope at Assumption College’s third Relay for Life Cancer Walk held on October 14th to October 15th from 7:00pm to 7:00am. Over 400 students, teachers and community members spent the twelve hours walking the track, inside taking part in the great activities or having a short rest.
The evening began with a moving survivor victory lap with over 20 cancer survivors participating. It was an awe-inspiring sight for all and left us humbled and ready to get the event underway. “It’s an amazing sight to see so many people care enough to come out and raise all this money for cancer research. It gives me so much hope for those still struggling with cancer.” says melanoma survivor Shirley Kenill.
As the Relay for Life continued, many people walked the track with friends and family. There was even a team whose members took turns running all throughout the event. When people needed a break, there were plenty of fun activities going on in the school. At 9:45pm, the Luminary Ceremony began. More than 500 luminaries were surrounding the track in memory of those lost to cancer or those still battling with it.
No Relay for Life would be complete without the famous head shavings. This year, a record 13 students and two staff members shaved their heads for the valiant cause. Laura Smith, Matt Sek, Tommy Verry, Sean Busk, Chantel Mancini, Kayla Dusek, Dan Vervaecke, Ben Vervaecke, Robin Wax, Sean Vandermade, Chris Gatt, Josh Seguin, and Emily Sayles were all brave enough to bide fond farewell to their hair. Mr. O’Brien and Officer Kevin O’Neal also shaved their heads in an effort to raise awareness about cancer. Laura Smith not only shaved her head, but managed to raise a whopping $1400 for the Canadian Cancer Society! A huge thanks goes out to Laura for this tremendous accomplishment.
As the early hours of the morning came, the excitement levels of the participants did not slow down in the slightest. Fun activities like giant inflatables provided fun for all to partake in. A midnight dance party run by our own Chaplain Wayne Lachapelle excited many participants and gave them a huge surge of fun and energy. Movies were also played to keep up excitement levels. There always seemed to be something fun happening to keep those who were breaking from walking excited.
Although there was so much going on, the focus of the event never strayed from preventing cancer. Because so many of us have been affected by cancer that it was always on our minds during the twelve hour event. “When I asked my classes how many people had been affected by cancer, about 80 percent of the students raised their hands,” said Mrs. Lisa Aquino who was participating in her third Relay for Life. “I’ve lost my mother and sister to cancer, and I think it is important for all of us to do as much as we can to help prevent cancer in the future.”
Out on the track the mood was much different from inside where the activities were taking place. A more meek and respective attitude was felt for people walking the track, with the luminaries light up creating a tranquil atmosphere. A giant “HOPE” was light at the top of the field reminding us of why we were partaking in the Relay for Life. As 7:00am approached, the exhausted faces seemed endless, but spirit never dropped. As the closing ceremony drew nearer, almost everyone made their way out to the track for some final laps with their friends and family. With the closing ceremony, we were reminded of the great fight we were fighting
In total, over $42 000 was raised by the participants for the Canadian Cancer Society, a great amount of money that will go to research and medical costs for fighting many forms of cancer. As the Relay for Life came to an end, everyone was left with a feeling of pride for the fight they fought in the previous twelve hours. Although the fight with cancer is far from over, we can all feel that we helped a great deal in winning and making cancer history.
