In a little over a month, the Columbia Valley will be hosting the Canadian Cancer Society  (CCS) Relay for Life.

Saturday, June 11 is the day, and the DTSS track is the place.

We are off to an incredible fundraising start with the recent overwhelming success of our Kick Off Party, held on April 14 at the Copper Point Clubhouse. A record breaking $10,888.06 was raised that night, which did not include the monies received for the raffle tickets or for luminaries.

With online donations on top of that, we have almost $20,000 raised to date. Our goal this year is to raise $75,000 with at least 33 teams and 268 registrants.  We have over a quarter of our goal met and 13 teams have already registered online.

Every year, the CCS requests that each participant raise at least $100, but here in the Columbia Valley, we far surpass that amount. Last year, the average raised per person was $253, which is absolutely fabulous.

I would love to see our registration numbers increase as well. I think many people do not really understand what Relay is all about.

It is not a race, it is a leisurely walk or run. You are not competing with anyone, nor do you have to be a cancer survivor or a family member of one in order to join in.

Anyone and everyone is invited to participate. The more participants, the more valuable dollars are raised.

And the more money raised, the more research can be completed, in the hopes of finally finding cures for the over 200 different kinds of cancer.

And everyone knows someone who has, or who has had, cancer. We need to help fight this disease.

Relay for Life is a very family-oriented event. We provide entertainment right up until the very emotional Luminary Ceremony at dusk.

You are not required to stay all night, but you are encouraged to do so. You can set up a tent, or bring a camper or trailer to spend the night.

If you have never participated in Relay, or have not done so in the past couple of years, I strongly urge you to log on to www.relayforlife.ca and see what it is all about; or contact me at 250-342-9059 or sheilatutty@telus.net.

Registration is easy online, or if you prefer, stop by The Valley Echo office and pick up a registration form. Time is running out to start your fundraising endeavours.

Sheila Tutty

Relay for Life Co-ordinator