Team Depencier have many reasons to walk in this year’s Relay for Life at CFB North Bay.
Four out of nine siblings have all been touched by cancer.
“My oldest sister has breast cancer, I’m in my first year and my other sister has lymphoma. I lost both of my parents and a brother and a brother-in-law as well to cancer,” said team member Tina Quigley.
“I haven’t stopped crying since I got here. It is amazing. It is my first time here and it is just beautiful. The whole experience is fabulous. I haven’t cried since I was diagnosed in April of 2018 and I haven’t stopped since I got here.”
But the tears being shed are not tears of sadness.
“It is just very touching. The people who care, the other survivors, the other people who have lost people. It means a lot to our family. I signed up to volunteer for next time. I want to be supportive to as many people as I can, sharing the joy of being a survivor. The caring that someone needs when you are so sick you don’t know what to do with yourself. I just want to share, and care, and help someone else.”
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 445 Callander entered a team, walking for members living with cancer, those who have lost their battle, as well as family members.
“It is very emotional. We have a few of our members who have passed from cancer. We have a wonderful group of girls who are walking with us tonight who are also cancer survivors. So, we’re here to support them,” said Patti Burton.
Next year is a milestone year for the event, celebrating 20 years of fundraising for the Canadian Cancer Society.
“The atmosphere here is wonderful. We do it ever year and next year we’re coming back with more walkers and bigger tents. So, we will be bigger and stronger,” said Burton.
This year’s Honourary Survivor, Kim Kanmacher spoke to the crowd about the support she received following her diagnosis.
She recalled attending last years relay with her family including her young two granddaughters after having just finished her breast cancer treatments.
‘It is staggering to know that one in two people will experience a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. For me that was really hard to believe, that I could be that one. I have always led a healthy lifestyle and I always lead by example. So how could this be happening? I can tell you no one is immune to cancer,” said Kanmacher.
“Everyone’s journey with cancer is different. It doesn’t have to define who you are. It is being with people that continue to do the things that you do, to help support us live a normal life. I didn’t want to be treated any differently because I had cancer. And certainly the key for me was always staying on the right side of positive. Today I am inspired more than ever to kick cancer to the curb.”
Kanmacher lead the survivors lap, followed by others who received a cancer diagnosis and their caregivers.
For the next five hours, teams walked the lap, a symbol that no one walks alone in their cancer journey.
The final tally at the end of the evening was just over $97,000, with more coming in to help hit the $100,000 goal.
North Bay and area Relay for Life events have raised nearly $3.5 million for the Canadian Cancer Society.
