Finding hope in the darkness
Summerside Relay for Life brings back memories and brings in thousands of dollars
Relay for Life brought tears and laughter as more than 160 cancer survivors came together.
It was hard to miss the Ramsay family’s spirit of Christmas at the fundraiser held in Queen Elizabeth Park in Summerside Saturday night.
The team comes from a tragic day in their history.
On Christmas Day in 1974, a significant time when many families gather and celebrate, Hazel Ramsay died of leukemia at the age of 46.
“We lost our mom from leukemia on Christmas Day in ’74,” said Brenda Ramsay, one of the 11 siblings on the team and the co-chairwoman of the Summerside Relay Committee.
“We knew she was sick, but we didn’t know it would happen that fast.
“When she died,” continued Ramsay, “there were three boys and they were six, eight and 10 years old, and the youngest had Down syndrome, so we all had to pitch in.”
Every year the family participates in the Relay for Life dressed in a different Christmas theme.
“Since we started, we have probably raised $80,000 in funds. Last year we got an award from the Canadian Cancer Society from all our volunteering and fund raising,” said Ramsay.
Cancer survivors wearing yellow shirts and those who lost loved ones were the first to walk the lap behind the sombre drummer and piper while passing the baton to their teammates.
Holding the survivor banner and leading the group of survivors around the track were Eileen Sears and her brother, Nelson Blanchard. They walked the lap in memory of their brother, Wayne, who lost his life to a cancerous brain tumour just two months ago at the age of 61.
“Every day counts,” said Blanchard, who had colon cancer five years ago. “It brings us all together, and we are pretty close now.”
Sears added, “It’s hard for us to walk tonight. We will be thinking of Wayne, a lot.”
Barry Stewart, who is on the board of directors for the Canadian Cancer Society, says more people will be diagnosed with cancer on the Island because of the aging population.
“The biggest concern we have with an aging population is that we’re going to have more and more diagnosis of cancer, but hoping again because of early screenings, healthier lifestyles, and quitting smoking, we will prevent more cancers.”
He added, “Around 910 Islanders will be diagnosed in a year.”
The tagline for the Canadian Cancer Society of P.E.I. is Cancer changes everything. So can you.
“Relay for Life is the largest fundraiser in the country for cancer,” said Marlene Mulligan, the executive director for the Canadian Cancer Society in P.E.I.
“For 17 years it’s been on the Island bringing people together and acting as a reminder of what’s been made possible and how far we’ve come. For many, the lap marks a milestone on their journey. It’s like, ‘I made it to the survivor lap,’ ” Mulligan said.
At 9:30 p.m. lights were lit around the track in memory of all those who had lost their lives to cancer or who are still battling the disease. A silent lap followed the illuminator ceremony.
The fundraiser that started at 6 p.m. wrapped up at midnight.