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Cancer survivor aims to provide inspiration
Shiri MacPherson shares her reasons for being a Relay for Life team captain

Joseph Tunney
Northern News Services
Wednesday, June 1, 2016

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
For Shiri MacPherson, becoming a Relay for Life team captain is all about getting the youth involved.

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Cancer survivor Shiri MacPherson says participating in Relay for Life is "not even describable when you're standing next to all those survivors." - Joseph Tunney/NNSL photo

"When I started Relay (my team) was the only kid's team," the 15-year-old cancer survivor said. "Now there's like three kid's teams. I think the adults have also felt the pressure because who wants to be beaten by kids?"

MacPherson was diagnosed with Wilms' Tumour when she was just two-years old. While the chances of surviving this sort of cancer is generally high, by the time doctors discovered it in MacPherson it was already in its fourth stage, greatly reducing her chances.

That's partly why she loves doing the annual survivor walk. It's been 12 years since she's been cleared of cancer and she says she takes pride in showing people she's beaten the odds.

"The feeling is not even describable when you're standing next to all those survivors," MacPherson said.

"It's just really great."

This year's Relay for Life is on June 10 at the William McDonald Middle School track.

The idea behind the relay for individuals to try to raise a certain amount of money for cancer research and then participate in the night's event.

On the evening of the event, a walking path is lit with luminaries dedicated to people who have died from and survived cancer.

One person from each team is supposed to be on the track at all times and people walk until morning to raise awareness.

Nikki Grobbecker, the revenue development co-ordinator of the Canadian Cancer Society in Yellowknife, said having someone as young as MacPherson as a team captain helps the overall cause.

"It's really important we have older and younger individuals being involved as team captains," Grobbecker said.

"There are lots of survivors, both young people as well as older people, and it gives a lot of hope knowing that Shiri survived and she was two-years old when it happened.

So far there are 13 teams registered and each team consists of between eight and 15 people.

Last year approximately 22 cancer survivors did the survival walk and Grobbecker said she's expecting close to the same number this year.

This year the fundraising goal is $118,000. Grobbecker said it's usual for the Yellowknife relay to raise over $100,000.

MacPherson's responsibilities as a team captain includes ensuring her teammates meet their fundraising goals and ensuring they register. She also suggests ways for people to raise money through group fundraising activities.

"I just tell people what to do," MacPherson said.

Relay for Life is not just the walk, however. Grobbecker said her organization is still working out some of the entertainment details for the night but said Jim Taylor and Double Treble are scheduled to play.

Part of the money raised goes to other programs, like giving patients wigs and connecting survivors with people diagnosed with the same type of cancer to act as inspiration.

MacPherson, despite all the entertainment that will be happening around her, being team captain is about one thing.

"I felt if there was a kid as a team captain, people would understand you don't need to be an adult to do something."

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