The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) and the organizers of this year's Estevan Relay for Life have made a last-minute decision to reduce the length of the event.
The event will run from 5 p.m. on Saturday to 1 a.m. on Sunday. The announcement was made Monday afternoon.
A Relay for Life is typically a 12-hour event.
Local organizers previously pushed the start time for the event back a couple hours, from its traditional 7 p.m. start time, in an effort to attract more participants. But the number of teams has dwindled this year, with only seven registered as ofthe Mercury's press time.
Event chair Kathryn Kitchen said they had some open entertainment slots in the overnight hours, and they needed more volunteers.
“The Canadian Cancer Society's mandate for the event, of course, is that it's a 12-hour event,” said Kitchen. “But they have offered shorter events in the past to cities that haven't hit their goal in the past.”
Kitchen noted that Moose Jaw will have a six-hour Relay for Life this month, because of their numbers last year.
The CCS approached local Relay organizers on Monday with the idea of having an eight-hour relay. The concept had been discussed by the local organizers previously.
“Our goal and the Canadian Cancer Society's goal is to put on a successful event,” said Kitchen.
Organizers didn't have to drop any entertainment, either. They will combine the fight back and the luminary ceremony into one celebration at 9 p.m. on Saturday night They were also able to move the Sunday church service from 4 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.
