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Relay for Life marks 10 years in Yellowknife Race on Saturday to raise funds for cancer research
Graeme McNaughton
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, June 6, 2013
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Runners old and young alike will be taking to the William MacDonald track on Saturday in an effort to help raise funds for cancer research.
Nancy MacNeill of the No Pants Army goofs around with Jacqueline McKinnon of the Corvan Cancer Killers at last year's Relay for Life. Both teams are returning for this year's event. - photo courtesy of Rich McIntosh
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The Relay for Life, celebrating its 10th year running in Yellowknife, will see runners from more than 30 different teams take the track for 12 straight hours.
Judith Shipman, the survivor co-ordinator of the Yellowknife Relay, said the community always comes together for this event.
"It's a great community," said Shipman. "We raise a lot of money for a town our size."
"It's a wonderful event that the city fully participates in," said Lorna Devaeu, the revenue director for the Canadian Cancer Society in Yellowknife, adding that between 300 and 400 people participated in last year's event.
According to the Relay for Life website, teams in Yellowknife have already raised more than $50,000 ahead of the event.
Devaeu said the final tally of funds raised won't be available until Monday.
The team that has raised the most money, Diamonds Forever Cancer Never, is just short of their $20,000 goal. The team is made up of employees from the Ekati diamond mine near Lac du Gras.
Shipman said people participating need to see that without the money raised for cancer research, fewer people would be at the race wearing a yellow survivor's shirt.
"I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for the cancer research dollars," she said.
Shipman was diagnosed with cancer in 2000, when her doctor discovered she had nasopharyngeal cancer, which affects behind the nose where the nasal passages and auditory tubes join the remainder of the upper respiratory tract.
After being diagnosed, Shipman said she had to take a leave from her position as a registrar with the Department of Education's apprenticeship program and get on a plane to Edmonton. There, she underwent surgery and treatment.
Aside from a short trip home for Christmas, Shipman stayed in Edmonton for four months.
While Shipman has been cancer free for more than a decade, she says research money is still needed for those who have or may soon get cancer.
"I made a habit of writing the names of those I've lost over the years," said Shipman of her yellow Relay for Life survivor's T-shirt.
"I'm running out of room."
Shipman said while the event can be emotional, with no dry eyes when the cancer survivors do their own lap of the track, there are other activities to keep everyone entertained and she expects Mayor Mark Heyck, along with other dignitaries, to come out for the event.
Devaeu added there will also be activities for the children, including a bouncy castle, as well as draws for various prizes, including free airfare from event sponsor Canadian North.
Northwestel will also be providing free wireless Internet so that participants will be able to use their smartphones and other devices.
“The Relay for Life race is a great event,” said Paul Gillard, director of Northwestel's operations support centre, in a news release.
“The event lasts through the night and we want to make sure that participants are able to stay connected during that time.”
The relay isn't the only thing that some teams have been doing to raise funds, Shipman said, with some teams hosting car washes and pep rallies to help raise extra money.
One of those pep rallies, Rally the Troops, will be held Friday evening at Javaroma and will be hosted by two teams, the NoPants Army and Rainbow Lawdettes.
"We are planning to have live music, a 50/50 draw and a silent auction during the event," said Amy O'Connor, the team captain for NoPants Army.
"It should be a fun way to kick off the Relay."
The NoPants Army was conceived last year in honour of Yellowknife musician Amanda Dei. She succumbed to ovarian cancer in February.
The silent auction will consist of donated items from local businesses including Extra Food, Flowers North and Just Fitness.
Shipman said she is encouraging all of the cancer survivors she knows to participate, whether it be through the Relay itself or any associated events.
"It's good for people to know that some people do survive," she said.
"It's not something that isolates you. (Cancer) affects everyone you know."
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