The 91原创 Cancer Society鈥檚 Relay for Life is an event for anyone who wants to have a hand in defeating cancer.
This year, the society has expanded it into two separate relays: the first is May 25 and 26 in Victoria鈥檚 Fernwood area, and the second is June 15 and 16 in the Westshore.
Organizers believe two events, in two distinct communities, will give even more participants a chance to come out and make their own contribution to the battle against cancer.
Linda Tesser, event co-ordinator, said she was attracted to the Relay for Life as a participant after losing her father years ago to lung cancer.
鈥淚 first got involved because my dad passed away and I just had to do something to see that he didn鈥檛 die in vain,鈥� Tesser said.
鈥淧eople do it because they have a personal, heartfelt, vested interest.鈥�
Nationally, the Relay for Life is the 91原创 Cancer Society鈥檚 largest fundraising event of the year, earning more than $50 million annually.
Last year鈥檚 event raised about $90,000 locally despite rainy, windy weather that knocked down tents at the relay site.
This year, it鈥檚 hoped splitting the event will make it more accessible for everyone.
The Westshore walk, to be held at City Centre Park in Langford, is planned to be the society鈥檚 signature family event. Tents will be set up with kids鈥� entertainment in mind.
Meanwhile, the 12-hour Fernwood event, at Victoria High School, is planned as an event to appeal to young adults, with dance music, food trucks and a DJ to keep spirits high.
To learn more about the Relay for Life and how to get involved, go to relaybc.ca.
Here are three participants:
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NANCY WONG
Nancy Wong is one of Victoria鈥檚 best fundraisers and she does most of it as a team of one.
About 15 years ago, Wong watched her father die of lung cancer.
Within a year, the Saanich woman was in the Relay for Life, at times carrying her then six-month-old daughter.
Initially, it was easy to line up other team members, but over the years, many have fallen away, except for the now 43-year-old mother of two.
She completes the entire relay, all 12 hours, by herself every year.
鈥淚鈥檓 keeping my dad鈥檚 memory alive, inside of me,鈥� Wong said.
This year, she expects her mother will show up and stay until after the 10听p.m. luminary ceremony, when lanterns are lit in remembrance of loved ones who have died of cancer.
Her children, age 12 and 14, will be there as well.
鈥淚 know my dad is watching,鈥� Wong said. 鈥淗e knows I remember him.鈥�
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SAM MINAKER
Sam Minaker is a medical student at the University of Victoria who has always had an interest in cancer research.
But it was the death of his grandmother about seven years ago, following a painful battle with cancer, that inspired the 24-year-old to join the Relay for Life.
At the time, Minaker was an undergraduate chemistry student at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia.
Away from his hometown of Kitimat, he decided taking part in the relay would be a good way to honour his grandmother.
Since then, he has had uncles die from various cancers, so the impetus for joining the relay never disappears.
On the other hand, a big inspiration for continuing 鈥� and even starting a team when he arrived at UVic 鈥� is the positive feelings the various relays have inspired.
It seems everyone there has had a brush with the disease and comes out motivated to help.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a positive night getting together, with everyone there working toward the same goal of trying eventually to have a cure for cancer,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 a good way to remember my grandma.鈥�
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PATRICK O鈥橦ARA
Patrick O鈥橦ara was once a survivor for himself; now he is helping somebody close.
The 57-year-old chief petty officer in the 91原创 Navy said he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2005. He underwent surgery, chemotherapy and barely missed any work.
Now his ex-wife, to whom he remains close, has been diagnosed with cancer. It鈥檚 her fight that has O鈥橦ara getting ready to enter a Relay for Life team, hopefully with their three grown kids and their friends.
He remembers his own battle began when he was training for the Boston Marathon.
Instead of getting fitter, he was feeling weaker and weaker and becoming steadily more jaundiced until cancer was diagnosed.
Despite the doctor鈥檚 advice, he did not take six months off work during chemotherapy. Instead, he would head into the office every day and even continued his regular workout in a gym.
鈥淚 kept up my exercise, which I鈥檓 convinced helped,鈥� O鈥橦ara said. 鈥淚 believe that until you no longer can, you should just live your life exactly as you were before you were diagnosed.鈥�
