The Canadian Cancer Society had a great first showing of its Relay for Life event in St. Albert Saturday and Sunday.
The 12-hour overnight team effort had beautiful weather but most importantly, it had a respectable crowd of people who all brought their own sunshine to Fowler Track.
Jake Bradley, the event co-ordinator, said he was pleased with the turnout.
"It went really well, even better than I had expected for a first year event."
With the motto that cancer doesn't sleep, so the walkers wouldn't either, the relay saw 17 teams with a total of more than 150 participants take turns treading the track even through the dark hours. They weren't really dark though as symbolic candles called luminaries lit the way.
The goal was to raise a total of $75,000 and preliminary figures show that at least $50,000 was brought in.
Bradley paid much credit to the organizing committee, calling them a selfless, tireless crew.
"They're all volunteers. There's a lot of people who really sacrificed a lot of time over the last couple of months. They just did a fantastic job. It was a very big success."
He also thanked the beautiful skies, especially since the Edmonton event two weeks ago was drenched in poor planning.
"We're going to start laying the groundwork for next year as long as we can keep the weather from this year. It was absolutely perfect. You couldn't have asked for a better weekend. The mistake with the Edmonton event was that they booked it on the same weekend as the Rainmaker Rodeo."
For more information on the event, visit www.cancer.ca/relay or contact Bradley at 780-437-8407 or [email protected].
Mayor's Walk coming on Saturday
The premier fundraising and community event of the year is upon us. This weekend marks the 10th annual Roy Financial Mayor's Walk, a single gathering of hundreds of people showing their support for their favourite causes.
There's nothing quite like a mass of humanity to remind us all that St. Albert is a city of caring and sharing, all within the network of the Red Willow Trails.
The three-kilometre walk or 10 km run starts from St. Albert Place at 10 a.m. on Saturday. The event is completely sponsored by Roy Financial so every cent raised goes toward the registered charities and community groups. Michelle Radey, the executive director of the St. Albert Day Care Society, said that it has enabled her organization to thrive.
"It's our biggest fundraiser of the year," she said, recalling their take of more than $10,000 from the 2009 event. Not bad for just a little bit of co-ordination and a few kilometres of distance.
For more information call Heather at St. Albert Parents' Place at 780-459-7377 or visit www.royfinancialmayorswalk.com.
