Editor:
The 2013 Relay For Life has now come and gone, and all I can say is “wow.” This is my third (and final) year as chair and I could not feel more humbled and honoured to have been even a small part of this event.
I want to acknowledge the businesses, organizations and people who sponsored us financially or with a prize donation, or by donating their services and their time. I realize how difficult it may be to donate anything these days, but the businesses and organizations in the Bow Valley continue to astound me. This year I managed to see the streets and stores decorated with our bows, which are famous in the Alta./N.W.T. and B.C./Yukon divisions of the Canadian Cancer Society. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for helping to make our event a success.
A huge thanks to all of the youth who made up teams and were out walking throughout the night. As I have heard people say, “Our future is in good hands.”
I firmly believe that you need to have new people and new ideas to keep participants wanting to come back. It is time for someone new to take over the chair (co-chairs are the best), and for me to step down and concentrate on one part of the whole. We will be looking for new volunteers for the committee next year. Please give it a thought and let’s get rid of this devastating disease so it doesn’t turn anyone else’s life upside down.
I have met the most incredible people. It didn’t seem to matter what role they were a part of — whether they were a cancer survivor, team member, volunteer, committee member or any one of the organizations or persons who showed up to participate or donate. I feel that I have been made a better person for having met and talked to these people.
Also, I have a youth’s hoodie which was left at the relay. Please contact me at [email protected] if you think it is yours.
Joyce Peart,
Chair, retired Canmore Banff Relay For Life
