The inaugural Relay for Life in Olds was a success despite the rain and cold weather, surpassing organizers' fundraising target on May 2.From registration fees and pledges, participants raised $34,905 for the Canadian Cancer Society.Combined with an additional $10,000 donation from the Olds Lions Club and raffle sales, the fundraiser exceeded the $35,000 goal.“I'm just so grateful for this community and how people have come together for a cause because cancer really does affect everyone,” said Louan Statchuk, an Olds High School teacher who served as the event coordinator. “Everybody pitched in and it was definitely a community effort and the sponsorships were amazing.”There were 10 teams participating, varying in number from seven to 12 people each.The event started when seven cancer survivors strolled around the soccer field behind the Community Learning Campus for the first lap, to the applause and cheers of those in attendance.Survivors wore yellow T-shirts, the colour representing victory.Caregivers, family members and friends joined them, often locked arm in arm, for the second lap.At 10 p.m., a remembrance ceremony was held with a moment of silence for those who have succumbed to cancer.After, luminaries, a candle within a paper bag, were lit, each having a name written on it representing a treasured relationship.One of the people wearing yellow was Lyn Leonard, who is a breast cancer survivor.She was first diagnosed with cancer in the right breast in January last year. She had 20 radiation treatments ending in June.Leonard, 45, thought she was finished with the disease but was diagnosed again, this time in the left breast.“I was very shocked to get the second call in January this year. I thought I was done with breast cancer last year,” she said.Leonard, whose two sisters both had breast cancer, opted to get a mastectomy and reconstruction. While she said fighting the disease was scary for her, she credits family ties for beating it.“I have a great family support here. My four daughters, so hoping that they will never have to go through this,” she said.The mother of four also said that cancer has changed her outlook on life.“Definitely try not to sweat the little things for sure,” Leonard said, adding that other people have it worse. “Really, there is. I mean, I'm still here.”Statchuk's mother is also a survivor – of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and ovarian cancer since 2011.She plans to organize the relay again and is raising expectations higher for next year.“We're hoping to be back next year and we hope we can have 15 to 20 teams and we'll keep praying for sunshine next year.”[email protected]
