Local residents are lacing up their shoes for the 7th annual Innisfail Relay For Life.
Advertisement
Members have been raising funds for the American Cancer Society, and supporting cancer survivors for more than seven years.
Both survivors and family and friends of survivors walking to raise money to fight the deadly disease that takes many forms. “It’s one of those things that you just keep hoping and praying for more cures”.
The event will take place from 11 a.m.to 11 p.m. Saturday at the high school track, 300 Whittlesey Drive. “It was all done within a week and a half (of finding out she had cancer)”.
“The people here, they’re very into it, they’re very excited about it”, said Melanie Francis, a community manager with the American Cancer Society.
“I was amazed at how everything was done so quickly”, she said.
It was a wonderful celebration of survival, a tribute to the lives of loved ones lost and those still fighting the disease, as well as a night of fun, friendship, and fundraising to beat cancer.
During the barbecue were going to have face painting, a bouncy castle, clowns, balloon animals and kids activities as well, she said, noting money raised from the barbecue will go to the Relay For Life.
Sarah Sparrow of Fitchburg is attending Gardner’s Relay for Life for the first time with her mother.
This year’s event is at a new venue – Coronation Park at 1426 Lakeshore Rd.
“When they all did the Walk of Hope, I needed a box of tissues”, said Lori Sparrow, whose daughter was diagnosed with hodgkin lymphoma in January.
A dinner was held in the evening for all cancer survivors who attended the relay.
Advertisement
And there was at least one family with multiple generations of cancer survivors wearing purple T-shirts and participating in this year’s relay.
