There are six teams signed up for this year’s Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in the Energy City and the event’s chairwoman, Kathryn Gilliss, would love to see at least four more register prior to the June 13 event.
Gilliss was joined by hundreds of Relay supporters and representatives from three of the registered teams, for a Relay for Life launching party at the Southern Plains Co-op parking lot late Saturday morning and early afternoon.
Delaine Kendall and Carol McKay, are this year’s honourary survivors for the event that focuses on finding cures for cancer and promoting awareness of the disease.
“Out of the six teams registered we have at least 30 participants already involved. We would like more,” Gilliss told the Mercury as the sun shone down on the hot dog and hamburger consuming supporters who were enjoying the games and socializing with the teams members from the Workout Warriors, Enbridge and ECS teams who set up exhibit tables and fundraising games for their teams.
“This is the 10th Relay for Life held in Estevan and we have already raised over $1 million from the previous relays,” said Gilliss.
This year’s Relay for Life will be held at Affinity Place, starting at 5 p.m. on June 13, and continuing non-stop, until 5 a.m. June 14.
Although, no official target has been set yet, the chairwoman said it would be nice to meet or top a $67,000 unofficial goal.
St. Mary’s School will be playing host to this year’s Mini Relay for Life on May 29, with details surrounding that event being made known by the school in the near future.
Last year’s Mini Relay was hosted by Weldon School in Bienfait.
At 1 p.m. on Saturday, Gilliss introduced Kendall and McKay who had the privilege of officially launching the helium-filled balloons with the names of cancer survivors, or names of those who had lost their battle with the affliction, written on the surface of each balloon.
Proceeds from the event sponsored by Southern Plains and other businesses, will go directly to Relay for Life.
