Over 400 people, all touched by cancer in some way, came together Friday, for one night, at 22 Wing CFB North Bay for the 18th annual Relay for Life.
The five-hour walk around the sports field track, raised just over $90,000 to help fight cancer, with more money still to come.
Survivors of all ages, wearing bright yellow t-shirts took their victory lap to kick off the fundraising event, cheered on by loved ones lining the track.
Honourary Survivor, Doug Bies is a two-time cancer survivor. He said he felt a little emotional speaking to the survivors and their supporters.
“It really gets you to recognize how friends and family and the community can come together to really help survivors and to remember the people we’ve lost. I’ve lost my mom and my wife to cancer,” said Bies.
He was first diagnosed with testicular cancer as a young married man at the age of 24. A routine colonoscopy in 2016 revealed he had rectal cancer. Luckily it was caught early enough, and he has since returned to work.
Bies is grateful for the support he has received from family and friends every step of the way.
“I think as a survivor, the things I appreciated was having them help out with the day-to-day things. There is a lot of time spent having to travel for treatment, so you may not have enough time to do things around the house. So anytime someone was able to help with the everyday chores, it was really appreciated.”
Illness can take its toll on both the patient and loved ones. People are often at a loss as to how to help a cancer patient. It is important that they pick up on each other’s cues.
“The times you do wind up in hospital, a lot of people think they have to do an around the clock vigil and be at the bedside 24/7. To tell you the truth from the patient’s perspective, it’s really tiring. It’s fine to have visitors, but you’re there to rest and recover, so you have to be able to tell your supporters that they need to go, and they have to be supportive of that. It’s always good to gauge not only how the patient is doing, but how the family is doing, because they can get overwhelmed, and need a break too.”
Close to 50 teams registered for the relay. Each team and each person within the team has their own personal reasons for raising money.
Members of “Laurie’s Legacy” were there honouring the memory of their dear friend who recently lost her battle with cancer.
“It’s important for us to be here. She was the nicest lady you would ever want to meet. It was less than six months from diagnosis to death. It shouldn’t happen to anybody, and if there’s any way to help find a cure, make it easier, make it go away, then we will do what we can,” said friend Coleen Patterson.
Two-time cancer survivor Barry Spilchuk and author of “‘The Cancer Dance-What do you do when cancer catches you with your pants down?” credits advancements made in research for his own survival.
“I would think the biggest message I would say is ‘thank you’ because a lot of people worry I only have a dollar to give or some little kid washed a car and put 20 cents in a jar. It’s amazing how all that adds up,” said Spilchuk.
“Here I am, lying in Princess Margaret Hospital and they’re saying get your affairs in order and five months later I’m cancer free. And that’s because of all the research and all the money that’s been donated from every little car wash and every lap around the track. So thank you to everybody.”
Gil Pharand senior manager, Canadian Cancer Society, North Bay community office said the number one fundraising team is new to the relay this year. A group of co-workers got together and raised money which is being matched by their company.
“A lot of the money raised through Relay for Life and other events and campaigns for the Canadian Cancer Society goes toward research in Canada. We have some of the leading research here in Canada that is fully funded by the Canadian Cancer Society, and donations made by everyday people. Any advancements made in research will help people right here in North Bay.”
