Dream Team
Relay for Life 2016 P.E.I. Dream Team announced
The Canadian Cancer Society started the Relay for Life season by announcing the P.E.I. members of their Dream Team at Red Shores Summerside.
The Canadian Cancer Society announced the P.E.I. members of their Dream Team, Tuesday, at Red Shores Summerside. The Dream Team includes five community leaders from each province, who commit to raising $5,000 for the Relay for Life and cancer awareness.
Charles Kelliher, a cancer survivor and member of the Canadian Cancer Society Board of Directors, said it is fitting the announcement of the P.E.I. comes at the beginning of daffodil month.
“These days it is quite widely known that April is cancer awareness month, a time when Islanders and Canadians alike are wearing their daffodil pins and donating to the fight against cancer,” he said. When Relay for Life, one of the largest fundraisers for the Cancer society, first came to the Island, there was one event in Charlottetown with 50 teams participating, said Kelliher, now there are seven events across the Island. “More than 120 teams, 1,000 participants, 500 cancer survivors, 2,500 people honoured through luminaries, and 500 volunteers,” were involved in 2015. The 2016 Relay season kicks off on May 28, with an event at Victoria Park, “Bark for Life.”
“This makes it truly an event for the whole family. We’re telling cancer it’s barked up the wrong tree,” said Kelliher. Sandra Reeves, representing credit unions of P.E.I., the provincial sponsor of the Relay, was first diagnosed with cancer in 2002. She went through chemotherapy, surgery and radiation treatments. Then, in 2008, the cancer returned requiring further surgery and chemotherapy treatments.
“It’s an emotional rollercoaster. You’re on a countdown looking forward to the final day of your treatments, feeling like your life has been put on hold until that day happens,” said Reeves. Andrew Campbell, a UPEI Relay representative, said this year’s team raised a record $22,500 at their Relay in January. “If 16 teams and 100 students can come together around exam season and raise $22,500 and make a difference, I think you can too,” said Campbell. Executive director of the Canadian Cancer Society, Kim Barker, whose father is a cancer survivor, said Relay goers are the very spirit of what the event is about. “Our efforts here are making a difference in increasing the survival rate. When I look at my children and I look to the future, I do believe it is going to be so much brighter.”