After participating in their first Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life in Osoyoos, Christina Jensen and her teammates from Vancouver insist they’re going to be back for many years to come.

“What a fantastic setting and what a fantastic event,” said Jensen, who was part of the 10-member team called Stop the War in My Rack, which included eight members from Vancouver, one from Barrier and one from Osoyoos. “There’s a great spirit among all of the competitors and it’s a really nice thing to be a part of.”

A total of 13 teams and 120 participants took part in this year’s Osoyoos Relay for Life, held once again in Gyro Park. The event raised just under $37,000, with several more cheques expected to be cashed in the next week or two, said event co-chair Maxine Boxall.

Jensen’s aunt is well-known Osoyoos-based entertainer Diane Ball, who has been organizing the entertainment and performing at the local Relay for Life event since its inception back in 2005. Because several of her best friends have been touched by cancer, they decided to enter a team in this year’s event and are very glad they did, said Jensen.

“We’re here to support my aunt, who has been involved in this event since it started, but we’re also here because some of my best friends on this team have either had cancer or lost loved ones because of cancer,” said Jensen. “There aren’t many people who haven’t been affected by cancer and we thought it would be great to come to Osoyoos and support my aunt, but also raise some money for a great cause.”

Ball’s band called Road Show is a family affair as her sister Joanne, who is a singer, flew in from Calgary just to participate in this year’s event. Her brothers Dave Fauteux, who plays drums, and Al, who plays bass, also performed throughout the day. Beverly Murphy, who was part of the Win the War in My Rack team, is Ball’s sister.

Despite being a new team at the Osoyoos Relay for Life, the Vancouver team made quite an impression as they raised more than $4,200, placing them second among the 13 teams in terms of most funds raised, said Boxall.

Jensen said she has wanted to attend the Osoyoos Relay for Life for many years to show support to Ball and her family, but finally decided to enter a team and make the long trip after she lost a very good friend to breast cancer only a few months ago.

“Her name was Jenny Gagnon Olsen and she was only 39 years old and losing her hit me very hard,” said Jensen. “I signed up to participate in this event when I first found out she had been diagnosed and we thought she would be joining our team as a survivor, but we lost her on May 6.

“This entire trip and participating in this event is a tribute to Jenny … we all miss her very much.”

Murphy was diagnosed with skin cancer five years ago and has made a strong recovery following surgery. Being able to support her sister and join a team in the Osoyoos event for the first time was wonderful, she said.

“I know how lucky I am because I had surgery right after I was diagnosed with melanoma and I haven’t had any problems since,” she said. “There are very few people who aren’t affected by cancer in one way or the other and I’m so glad to be able to participate in such a wonderful event like this.”

Six years ago, she lost her cousin and his wife within six months of each other to cancer, said Murphy.

“My cousin’s wife had fought a tough battle against cancer for a long time and she passed away and within weeks he found out he had it too and he was gone within six months,” she said. “That was very tough to deal with and it still is.”

Diane Ball said having a group of good friends come all the way from Vancouver to support her and her family is remarkable.

“It’s pretty exciting to have them all here,” she said. “It’s good to be surrounded by family and friends on a day like this. When our good family friend, Jenny Gagnon, died a few weeks ago, it was very tough and it’s nice to have so many of her friends come here to honour her.”

Ball said she would like to thank all the local entertainers who volunteer their time to perform during the Relay for Life and all members of the community who make donations and show up to support the participants every year.

Despite a slight drop in the number of participants and amount of money raised, the 2013 event was an unqualified success, said Boxall.

“We had an exceptional event last year and we knew our numbers would be down a bit … but we set a target to raise $40,000 and we’ll be awfully close once all of the money is counted,” said Boxall, who helped organize this year’s event with the committee co-chair Tanya Tressel. “Overall, the event was a big success.”

The Osoyoos Relay for Life has now raised more than $300,000 since 2005, which is a glowing tribute to the generosity of the citizens of this community, she said.

BY KEITH LACEY

Osoyoos Times