Relay for life easily surpasses target

The Relay for Life is all about numbers—those who survive, those who haven’t, those who have joined the fight, and the $93,874 raised for the Canadian Cancer Society in Digby’s second Relay for Life

That total surpassed this year’s goal of $85,000 and last year’s total of $78,000.

More than 400 people participated in the Relay for Life, with relay teams circling the track at Digby Elementary School’s playing field took place over a 12-hour period, from 7 p.m. on June 13 to 7 a.m. the following morning.

“This is the first time for the caregiver’s lap,” said relay organizer Richard Parry.

“Last year, after the event, someone remarked that every person with cancer has someone supporting them, and wouldn’t it be nice to recognize those people. So the concept came out of that.”

As team members circled the track, there was music by Heavenly Harmony, Ucan2 and TKO. There were also games, a survivors’ banquet, movies, and complimentary therapeutic massages.

Taking part in the relay was a cross-section of Digby County’s residents, with teams made up of students, co-workers, families and friends.

There were also people who simply got together because they shared the goal of the relay—“to celebrate cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost to cancer, and fight back in the hope of finding a cure for this terrible disease.”

Teams began arriving and setting up tents on Digby Elementary School’s playing field as early as 4 p.m.

Opening ceremonies at 7 p.m. began with words from ATV television personality Peter Mallet, himself a cancer survivor, and by George Marshall of Digby, honorary chair of the event.

Digby-Annapolis MLA Harold Theriault, Warden Jim Thurber and Mayor Frank Mackintosh were also on hand to offer their encouragement and thanks to the relay’s participants.

Pre-planned and impromptu haircuts were popular spectator sports, and two women, Pat Steeves and Angella Whiteley had their heads shaved.

While the entertainment created a party-like atmosphere, there were also more solemn moments during the 12 hours, one of them during the lighting of the luminaries—the small flames contained in bags lining the track. The luminaries honored 1,412 people, survivors and others who have succumbed to the disease.

The Relay for Life had 100 volunteers, in addition to organizers and the relay team members.

“I’m indebted to them all,” said Parry. “They make my job easy.”