I am always saying what a generous community we live in, and it has been proven, yet again.

Another Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life has come and gone, and although the number of teams and participants were down, we still managed to raise over $61,000.

Last year we had 33 teams and 268 participants, but this year we only had 22 teams and 183 participants.

I think the fact that the Spilli Chilli Cookoff and Radium Days were changed to the same day as Relay may have had a lot to do with the decrease in numbers. Who knows? What I do know is that the people that did participate did an outstanding job of fundraising.

The Canadian Cancer Society asks that each participant attempt to raise at least $100. Our average was about $333 per participant. That is amazing considering that over 40 of our participants did not raise anything. That brings our average up to over $426. Absolutely amazing. The top five fundraisers were myself, Pam Campbell, Donna Rae, Erin McNeil and my two grandsons Graycen and Benjamen.

The individuals who participated in the Shave-a-thon raised more money than has ever been raised for head shaving. James Lazarus, Shirley Campbell, Rob Dunn, Abbie Bidinger and 5-year-old Tristan  Lewko  contributed just under $7,000. The lucky winner of the ice fishing shack was Phil Cleland and Doreen Murray won the quilt.

We did a number of door prize draws from a wonderful selection of gifts donated by Kootenay Savings Credit Union and a few others. Thank you to all who contributed.

The list of thank yous is long, but special mention needs to go to Sydney-Anne Porter, her sons Eric and Greg, along with their wives Sarah and Diane and the wonderful staff at AG Valley Foods.

This group of people did an outstanding job of raising funds for our Relay. Not only are they a corporate sponsor, but they raised $5,000 from their in-store raffle, provided food and coffee for participants the night of Relay, with proceeds going to us, they also entered a team and stayed and walked the track until the wee hours of the morning.  No wonder they are continuously named Retailer of the Year.  For a complete list, please see our ad on page  A6 of this week’s paper. I sincerely hope I did not forget anyone. If I did, please accept my apologies.

The wonderful committee that I had the pleasure of working with this year deserves a big pat on their backs. We start planning Relay in January and have regular meeting up until the event.

If you would like to join our committee next year, I welcome you. Contact me either by phone, email or just stop me on the street.  The more volunteers we have, the less work everyone has to do.

Thank you once again for participating, sponsoring or volunteering for the Relay for Life.

Cancer can be beaten, and with your help it will.

Sheila Tutty

Relay for Life Co-ordinator