Midale might be a small town, but it came through with big support for the Relay for Life.
The Relay was held at Midale Central School on June 18. The event attracted 17 teams and a few individual participants, raising more than $22,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society. Organizers had set a $15,000 goal.
There were 153 registered participants, but a few more people turned out the day of the Relay and paid the $20 fee for non-registered walkers.
鈥淚t still gives me goose bumps thinking that such a small town was able to raise so much money,鈥� said Midale teacher Jade Ivan. 鈥淭he day went absolutely flawlessly 鈥� except for the massive thunderstorm that rolled through after the luminary ceremony.鈥�
The Relay was organized by the members of the Midale school leadership council (SLC).
鈥淭hey dreamt it up, they planned it out and they fundraised all year,鈥� said Ivan, who serves as the staff liaison for the SLC along with Jordan Campbell.
The Relay opened with registration at noon and opening ceremonies at 1 p.m. Ivan and Campbell took to the stage, and discussed the importance of continuing the fight against cancer. 聽
Jeanette McNalty, who is a staff member at the school and a cancer survivor,聽discussed her fight with cancer during the opening ceremonies.
鈥淚t鈥檚 now estimated that two out of every five Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, and every day over 525 Canadians hear the words 鈥榊ou have cancer,鈥欌�� said McNalty. 鈥淟ast year, on a random day in February, I was one of those people.鈥�
Her daughter was only three weeks old at the time of her diagnosis. McNalty expected to be facing the challenges of sleep deprivation, endless feedings and changing diapers associated with a newborn. Instead, she was waiting for a biopsy result.
Fortunately, her cancer was detected in Stage 1. McNalty went through a masectomy, chemotherapy and 18 months of antibiotic therapy, all while balancing the demands of being a young parent.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been three months now since my last treatment, and in February of this year, I heard those beautiful words, 鈥榊ou are cancer free,鈥欌�� she said to applause.
McNalty then expressed her thanks to all the participants and supporters of the event.
Another cancer survivor, Tammie Morrison, cycled from Weyburn to the Midale to participate in this year鈥檚 Relay.
Cancer survivors led the opening laps of the Relay. They were joined by the rest of the Relay participants to walk the track, which was located behind the school.
Campbell said during the opening ceremonies that a cancer diagnosis can be one of the most terrifying moments in life, and a battle with cancer can be a challenging journey.
鈥淭he brave men and women who face cancer are in a fight for their lives,鈥� said Campbell. 鈥淎lthough not every story has a happy ending, there are more and more survivors in our midst every day.鈥�
The Relay for Life continued until midnight. Participants walked the track throughout the afternoon and evening. And they enjoyed entertainment provided by musicians from the Midale area. Old School was the headlining act, and they ran the sound, too.聽
鈥淗aving that live entertainment keeps the day rolling pretty well,鈥� said Ivan.
Everyone took a break for the luminary ceremony, which happened after dusk.
鈥淭he luminary ceremony was very touching,鈥� said Ivan. 鈥淚t was actually very hard to get through as an emcee. Lots of people were moved by 鈥� seeing the luminaries.鈥�
A thunderstorm rolled into the Midale area minutes after the luminary ceremony, forcing them to move the Relay for Life into the school鈥檚 gymnasium, where it remained for the final hour.
鈥淲e had some amazing volunteers who helped us rush everything into the gym,鈥� said Ivan. 鈥淲e didn鈥檛 want that sound equipment getting wrecked.鈥澛�
The fundraising total for the Relay was announced during the closing ceremony, and then all the participants came together for the final lap.
Ivan believes the Relay was a great learning experience for the young people on the SLC. They learned a lot about cancer, and about hosting a marquee event.
鈥淭hey learned a lot of responsibility, hard work and taking the initiative,鈥� said Ivan. 鈥淭hey did a lot of public speaking and a lot of public relations. A couple of community members came up to me and said 鈥榃ow, you have some great kids walking around and talking to people.鈥� The students were really respectful talking to survivors.鈥�
The students dedicated many hours planning the Relay in the months prior to the event, and the Relay was their focus in the final days before June 18.
Those students were Mary Vilcu, Janessa Kolenz, Randy Wiebe, Jenna Effa, Luke Bleasdale, McKenna Bieber, Emily Wiebe, Taelyn Kolke, Charitee Troendle, Kristina Brasseur, Keisha Swenson, Jayden Mathieu, David Wiebe, Mackae Rinas, Dallas Slastukin, Sherri Gall, Autumn Wiens, Paige Duncan and Caitlyn Ganson.
The top fundraising teams were Team Wild Rose, which ran a silent auction that raised $3,900, and Team Bride, which brought in about $2,700 in pledges.
Then there was Betty Kramer, an 82-year-old Midale resident, who raised more than $1,000 on her own.
Ivan noted the event also had a strong contingent of volunteers and sponsors from the region who helped make the Relay such a big success.
