It’s a three-pronged fight against cancer, and all it needs is people to lace up their shoes.
This spring, the Canadian Cancer Society’s annual Relay for Life takes place locally in three places on three different weekends.
Each event is a 12-hour relay that encourages community members to come together for a common cause.
It begins with the Delta Relay for Life, which takes place on May 30 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. at North Delta Secondary School, 11447 82 Ave.
So far, organizers have raised more than $28,000 of their goal of $45,000.
Joining the relay will be Mayor Lois Jackson, who is the honorary co-chair for the event, says organizer Sia Adjudani.
The event will also have music, games, food trucks, yoga, meditation and Zumba, she says, adding the Street Team from Z95.3 will be on site from 2-6 p.m.
For more details or to sign up, visit http://bit.ly/1K4zn5v or email deltarelay@bc.cancer.ca
Two weeks later, the White Rock/South Surrey Relay for Life will take place on June 13 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. at 14600 North Bluff Rd.
According to Jennifer Schroeder, community giving co-ordinator for the CCS BC & Yukon Division, the relay is comprised of three “pillars.”
The first is to celebrate cancer survivors, as well as those battling cancer and their caregivers, and includes a victory lap to kick off the event.
The second includes a luminary ceremony to remember loved ones who have passed away from the disease.
And the third is to fight back against the disease and put an end to suffering and loss caused by cancer.
“We want to see every single person that is touched by cancer be a survivor,” Schroeder said. “That is our ultimate goal.”
So far, they have raised less than $7,000, just eight per cent of their goal of $80,000.
For more details or to sign up, visit http://bit.ly/1G3uc3s or email whiterockrelay@bc.cancer.ca
The final event is the Surrey Relay for Life, which takes place on June 30 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. at the Cloverdale Millennium Amphitheatre at the corner of 176 Street and 64 Avenue.
“We currently have 33 teams registered, well over 200 people registered, and almost $30,000 raised,” says organizer Bill de Groot.
He credits much of the expected success of the event on the volunteers.
“The Canadian Cancer Society relies on thousands of volunteers across Canada to help put on events, and run its programs and services, and the Relay For Life is no different.
“I just happened to have the best volunteer committee in the entire country. Without them, I’d be nowhere.”
For more detail or to sign up, visit http://bit.ly/1PgPv7E or email surreyrelay@bc.cancer.ca
– with files from Melissa Smalley