Since 1999 Relay For Life has united a collective of Canadians, who are a force-for-life in the face of cancer. At Relay For Life events, participants of all ages gather at a community space and take turns walking around a track or path to symbolize the perseverance and action needed to improve lives and change the future of cancer forever.
During Relay, we honour Participants of Hope during our first lap the Lap of Hope. When the sun goes down, luminaries light the track in memory of those we have lost. The Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay For Life will be held on Saturday, June 8, 2024.
Karen White from Relay for Life was our guest speaker and introduced by Club Treasurer, John Brewster.
The Canadian Cancer Society believes that together we can make life better today and transform the future of cancer forever. Thanks, in small part to the support of the Rotary Club of Stirling, The Canadian Cancer Society was able to invest $50 million in research, supported 174 researchers, provided information to 16 million people who used cancer.ca and the 30,000 people that used the cancer helpline.
Locally, transportation was provided to 97 clients by 19 volunteer drivers that took 1,263 trips driving over 92,000 Kms.
Relay for Life and Relay for Life Youth events across Canada last year involved 40,000 people who collectively raised $9.4 million.
The Canadian Cancer Society has been working on several areas of focus and Karen touched on the following:
- Equity in Cancer Care to make sure all Canadians have access to scientific advancements and benefit from their delivery.
- Active Surveillance so that low risk or early-stage diagnoses can be used
- Hormone Therapy that is investigating new generation therapies
- Immunotherapy that uses a vaccine to boost the immune system before surgery to help prevent cancer spread after surgery, improving outcomes for people undergoing cancer surgery.
In thanking Karen for her presentation, our Club presented a cheque to continue to express our support for the Relay for Life.