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The West Island Relay for Life was held at Pierrefonds Comprehensive High School on June 18.
When it comes to down to it, each of us should do our part
Marla Newhook
The Gazette
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
If you throw a stone into a crowd, odds are you are going to hit someone who has been affected by cancer.
My father-in-law, Teddy, died of cancer 10 years ago. He worked
almost until the very end of his life. He didn’t get a chance to enjoy retirement, grow old with my mother-in-law, Linda, or to get to know his grandchildren. I know they would have loved his sweet temperament, corny jokes and whimsical musical talent.
He is only one of the reasons I chose to walk in the West Island
Relay for Life at Pierrefonds Comprehensive High School on June 18. My friend Anita is another.
We were 11 walkers on our team aptly named “Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum,” which roughly translates into “if you wish for peace, prepare for battle,” a personal motto of Christopher, Anita’s son, who died of cancer at the too-young age of 16.
When the last light faded and the dusk turned into night on the Friday evening, hundreds of participants, survivors and supporters paid tribute to all those whose lives were lost in the battle against cancer. An impressive number of luminaries circled the perimeter of the track at Pierrefonds Comprehensive High School and you could have heard a pin drop when they were slowly lit.
Adding to the drama and emotion of the evening was the haunting melody of a bagpiper who led us around the track, illuminated only by the glow of candles.
With live music, yoga, tai chi exercises, line dancing, and pre-dawn bingo, event organizers made sure the participants were kept busy when not walking. By 2 a.m. fatigue had made way for giddiness and everything became funny for no apparent reason. It was reminiscent of the campouts of my youth when all my friends and I would cram ourselves into backyard tents and giggle the night away. Paired with the abundance of food and drink, including the bottom-less coffee carafe, it’s safe to say that we were well taken care of by the Relay for Life volunteers.
As dawn slowly crept in on the morning of June 19, we all stretched, yawned, scratched and headed into the tent for a light breakfast and more coffee. To be honest, I never thought I’d make it. I had blisters on top of blisters, sore heels, achy muscles and stiff joints.
After a brief pep talk by event organizers, we were told that the West Island Relay for Life event raised $98,000 for cancer research. We were also reminded that one night of discomfort is nothing compared with what cancer patients have to deal with on a daily basis.
Touché.
After one last limp around the track, we packed up and went our separate ways. One day perhaps in the near future when there is a cure for cancer, we can look back on this experience and feel proud that we played a part in making that dream a reality.