While most of Squamish slept, more than 350 keen participants spent 12 hours walking, running and dancing around the track at Brennan Park to raise awareness that cancer never sleeps.
Over the past five years, Relay for Life has been an annual success and raised over half a million dollars. According to participants and coordinators, this year's sixth annual Relay was better than ever.
Relay for Life participants collected donations for months leading up to the evening of the event this past Friday (June 4) when they raised an overwhelming $145,000, exceeding last year's total.
Thirty-nine teams from throughout the corridor gathered in Squamish, making this year's Relay for Life a true Sea to Sky event. Three teams raised more than $10,000 each and Pemberton's The Good, The Bad and The Bubbly won top honours by raising more than $14,000.
The event kicked off at 7 p.m. after survivor committee head Wendy Booth's heart-touching address and led the survivor's lap to honour those who have and are fighting cancer. Black Tusk Caledonia Pipe band and the RCMP led the way, with all the teams filing in behind the survivors and their caregivers. Every team had at least one member walking for the next 12 hours.
The atmosphere on the field was a combination of excitement and sadness, with several groups telling stories about the loved ones they had lost.
Going into the event, relay coordinator Tamsyn Morote was hoping to raise more than last year and so they did with help from the Jail and Bail, luminaries and the auction.
The Jail and Bail was a new initiative where the RCMP officers rounded up high profile prisoners mayor Greg Gardner, Garibaldi Highlands principal Nick Pascuzzi, real estate agent Lisa Ames and Tongue in Cheek's Karin Shard and their "bail money" raised over $3,000 in one hour.
The luminaries ceremony was highlight of the evening and the entire track was lined with luminaries devoted to the someone fighting cancer or the memory of someone who had. There were 628 luminaries sold and after each one was lit, all the participants walked a lap in silence with a candle in hand and thoughts of loved ones in their head.
"It's kind of staggering to see this many lights around the field," said Kendra Wood after completing the lap of silence. "It's a disease that touches a lot of people's lives - a friend of mine was diagnosed with cancer and is fighting the fight right now.
"This is great, this is amazingand to see such a show of community support is really touching. It makes you feel really great about Squamish."
The vibe shifted dramatically afterwards with Jennifer Carney's salsa dancing class that had everyone shimmying in time to the music and dancing around the track. The limbo, the toga lap and massive games of twister were only some events scheduled throughout the night.
Morote, her dedicated army of volunteers and local sponsors have been working diligently for the past eight months to ensure an amazing and successful event.
"It was an amazing evening where everything went smoothly and people had lots of fun," said Cathie Greenless, part of the steering committee. "The Relay for Life brings our community together in a very special way to help fight against cancer, remember those who are no longer with us and celebrate those who are cancer-free."
