Like so many before them, cancer survivors, caregivers, family members and friends gathered Saturday in the fight against cancer.
The annual Innisfail Relay For Life was held June 18 at the Innisfail High School track from noon to midnight.
Guest speaker and cancer survivor Barry Ellis was participating in his first Relay For Life event after beating cancer not once, but twice in his life – first battling prostate cancer in 2006 and bowel cancer in 2010.
A total of 55 participants registered for this year's event and joined Ellis and other survivors for the relay.
“I'm telling my story. I want to give people some hope,” said Ellis, “I feel blessed to be a survivor. We've lost at least a half a dozen people (family and friends) in the last two years to cancer,” he added.
Ellis noted he was fortunate enough not to have to go through chemotherapy or radiation.
During opening ceremonies, Ellis told participants and guests that being diagnosed with cancer changed his life, how he lives it, and his perspective on life today.
“Until you've actually had somebody say the big C (cancer) word to you, you don't know what it feels like,” he said.
This year marked the first year the Innisfail Relay For Life had a presenting sponsor for the annual relay. Markon Electric, a Red Deer-based company, stepped up to support the event.
“The slogan of our company is ‘Do good. Give back. Markon'”, said owner and Innisfail resident Mark Ellingson. “I noticed there was no presenting sponsor and I felt it was appropriate, as nobody else had filled that role yet.”
He and his family have also been touched by cancer. His grandfather-in-law, Paul Hyer, is a cancer survivor.
“We're all joining in the Relay For Life. All members of my staff are walking with their wives, partners and families,” he said, noting the impact cancer has had on many families today.
“Everybody knows somebody who has been affected by cancer,” said Ellingson. “We're here to help fight cancer because it's something that touches everybody's lives.”
Barry Ellis
"I want to give people some hope. I feel blessed to be a survivor."
