Volunteers work together as they try and prepare for the the 2015 Relay For Life event. Photos by Tommy Wong.
The Relay For Life is in full stride as preparations are under way for the event tonight.
People attend charity events for different reasons, but today the people of North Bay will get together to stand up against a common cause.
Cancer affects us all in one way or another and this event hopes to bring the community together. Major Sarah Verran is one of the people who will be in attendance and she hopes to see many people come out. She's had a major role in helping set up, but that's not the sole reason why she'd like to see people out at Relay For Life.
Both her father and her stepmother are cancer survivors. And although, people in the armed forces seem fearless, Major Verran admitted how terrifying it was to see her own family being diagnosed with cancer.
“It was absolutely scary,” admitted Major Verran
“Just the uncertainly. Because even once you get through it one time, they say you're cancer free, but you know a lot of times it can come back in another form. It's a battle and the more we can do for the cause, the closer we are to the end.”
The John "Ed" Pyke memorial which is located right above the hill of where the Relay For Life will happen.
For Major Verran, this is her first time helping set up the event. She knows she has some big shoes to fill due the passing of John “Ed” Pyke, who was in her position two years ago. Pyke had a huge role in helping set up the event in North Bay, but unfortunately he lost his fight against cancer.
Susan Plamondon is a fundraising specialist at the Canadian Cancer Society and she had the pleasure of working along with Pyke. This will be her 11th Relay For Life that she'll be a part of, but Pyke was the first person she worked with when she started helping out. And she had nothing but fond memories of him.
“He was a mighty man and got lots of things done,” stated Plamondon.
“He spent endless hours making sure the event was done right. The last year he was with us, he was battling cancer. He put everything into place so that whoever stepped into his role would have an easy time. We think of him every time we're setting up the base. We also planted a tree in his memories, so he's continually looking over us.”
The event is happening an hour early this year at 6 p.m. and will go on until midnight at the Canadian Forces Base in Hornell Heights.
Even if you're not walking, there will be barbeques and several other events that will be available.
They've raised over $68,000 already and hope to reach the goal of $254 000.
For more information on Relay For Life or if you want to donate online, you can visit their site at http://convio.cancer.ca/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFL_ON_odd_?pg=entry&fr_id=17749
