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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday February 15, 2008 - 3 Relay for Life is gearing up for June By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The Feb. 27 Relay for Life 2008 kickoff event is for those familiar with the signature Cancer Society fundraiser -- as well as for those who aren't familiar with it, but may be interested. "It's for everyone," said the always enthusiastic Lisa Moffatt, fundraising co-ordinator for the Canadian Cancer Society Oakville Unit. The bottom line for this year's edition of the all-night camp out at Appleby College is to "Celebrate, remember, fight back," -- and to raise $560,000 to make cancer history. Relay for Life 2008 is set to take place June 6-7, but the machine that makes it work has already revved up. The steering committee of nearly 20 will officially launch the fundraising with the kickoff event to be held Wednesday, Feb. 27 at Appleby College in the college's new dining hall. Relay for Life sees teams of 10 people taking turns walking around the track all night, and camping overnight as each team member takes their turn in circling the track. For those who know the routine, team captains will be able to register their teams and choose campsite locations beginning at 7 p.m. on Feb. 27. At 7:30 p.m. there will be an information session for everyone, whether they're familiar with the event or just curious. "There will be no pressure," said Moffatt, of those who may be new to Relay, but want to find out more about forming and registering a team. Teams that do register online or in person by Feb. 27 will be entered in a draw for a massage team to visit their tent site during the relay to give a massage to all team members. The Feb. 27 kickoff will be the unveiling of this year's "new and exciting themes," said Moffatt. Also new this year will be the co-chairs steering the event. At the helm this year are two newcomers, not to Relay, but to the job of co-chair. "I agreed to co-chair the event in honour of my parents," said Appleby College assistant head of students and English teacher Don Adams. "I'd always intended to take part to a greater degree and as difficult as it is, it was time," said Adams. "I held both my parents' hands as they passed away with cancer," said Adams who hails from a family of four. Cancer has also invaded Adams' younger brother's life -- melanoma, which was caught in time to be stopped, he said. "I also had the experience of having the huge support of the Canadian Cancer Society in the midst of all that illness," said Adams. Lorelei Jenkins has not had cancer touch anyone in her immediate family circle, but the mom of two girls aged 16 and 12, said she's seen mothers of a couple of her 16-year-old daughter Alessandra's friends lose their battles with cancer. Still, Jenkins said it took some convincing for her to step out of her role as volunteer chair for Relay for Life, which she has held for two years, and tackle the job of co-chair. Jenkins became convinced, she said, after meeting Adams and other steering committee members. "It doesn't seem like a big committee. We just all work too hard, but have fun," said Moffatt. Jenkins moved to Oakville from Edmonton, via Toronto, 12 years ago. While her husband travelled a great deal, she administers her household and family -- and every June co-ordinates the hundreds of volunteers who make Relay for Life a huge success. Adams, too, is relatively new to Oakville. He began at Appleby six years ago and moved to Oakville from St. Catharines just short of three years ago. Both Jenkins and Adams make their home in the West Oak Trails community. Both have been familiar faces at Appleby College during Relay for Life events. Adams said all of Appleby's staff and faculty participate in the event, as do most of its students, so much so that Relay is part of the culture at Appleby. That sentiment is really town-wide as most residences, RON KUZYK / OAKVILLE BEAVER REVVING UP: Don Adams and Lorelei Jenkins are the two new co-chairs for the 2008 edition of the Relay for Life fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society. The relay will be held at Appleby College on June 6, but a Feb. 27 kickoff event, also to to be held at Appleby College, is the first chance for teams to register, choose campsite locations and for others to get more information about participating. businesses and others also back or participate in the event in some way. The event sponsor for this year's edition of the relay event will be Scotiabank, which is handing over a $25,000 cheque toward the event today. Since cancer never sleeps, neither do hundreds of residents who, in teams of 10, spend the night circling the track of the Lakeshore Road private school in an event that does not leave a dry eye in the house with its poignancy. At the same time, the memory of the event is of an upbeat, good time as teams dress up, enjoy music, friends and fun to make the event a celebration of the human spirit and its fight against cancer. Last year the event raised over half a million dollars for the Canadian Cancer Society, Oakville Unit. It has raised well over $2 million since it began half a dozen years ago and spawned other Relay for Life events at local high schools. The relay event begins with a Survivors' Victory Lap around the track before others begin circling the track to meet their pledges. It is punctuated by the lighting of luminaries purchased in celebration of a cancer survivor or in memory of a loved one that circle the track and offer the candlelit glow of hope to those witnessing the event. Entertainment keeps the Main Stage upbeat and a new Relay Marketplace/Midway was added to the attractions that include a silent auction, Relay retail and food services. Many teams dress in costume and pick their own theme in addition to those who rise to the invitation of a relayinspired theme that see prizes doled out for best-dressed team. To find out more about Relay For Life, attend the kickoff on Feb. 27, contact the Oakville Unit at 905-845-5231, stop by its office at 635 Fourth Line, Unit 51 or visit www.cancer.ca/relay. 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