This year’s Relay for Life will be held in Gyro Park in Osoyoos on June 22. The committee is looking for Oliver participants to help celebrate the fight against cancer.
Where have all the Oliver participants of the Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay for Life gone? That is the question puzzling the Oliver/Osoyoos Relay for Life committee.
The number has been dropping since 2008 when an amazing 108 Oliver residents were involved. This year the current number of Oliver relay members is zero. Yes, zero.
There were fantastic teams like Johnson Angels, The Posse, Fireman Duggies, and Valley First. Now there are none. The committee would love to have you back! Maybe the teams need to be reborn, Fireman Angels or Valley Posse.
The goals for this year’s relay is to have at least 15 teams, 150 members, and we would like to raise $45,000. To achieve those goals Oliver needs to participate.
Gyro Park in Osoyoos is the location of this year’s relay. It will run from noon until midnight on June 22.
The band shell will be rocking with all kinds of entertainment and there will be fun and games for the whole community, not just the participants.
The committee has been discussing alternating the location between Oliver and Osoyoos. Oliver has some great venues where the relay could be held, perhaps it could even return to a nighttime event in Oliver. In order to commit to this, volunteers from Oliver would have to join the committee, preferably this year so they can gain experience.
Why support the Relay for Life? Approximately 30 per cent of all deaths are attributed to cancer. Most of us will be affected in some way, either by us or a loved one battling the disease.
Therefore, the relay celebrates the strength, courage and determination of cancer survivors. They help the community see that many people survive cancer – progress is being made in the fight against cancer.
Time is taken to remember loved ones who have cancer or have lost their battle with this disease. As darkness falls the luminary candles are lit in their honour.
The event unites the community and inspires everyone to continue the fight against cancer. Cancer prevention and taking action can save lives; you can learn how at the relay.
Make a personal commitment to improve your health, the health of a loved one and the health of your community. You can do that by starting or joining a team, volunteering, signing up as a survivor or donating to the relay at www.relaybc.ca.
Forms are also available at the Oliver Chronicle office, the Oliver recreation centre office, and survivor forms can be picked up at the pharmacy at Oliver Shoppers Drug Mart.
Maxine Boxall
Special to the Chronicle
