By Sean McIntosh
Loyalist College is hosting the Relay for Life is the perfect location for it, said the event planner.
The 12 hour event, sponsored by the Canadian Cancer Society, will feature several teams relay racing with the goal of raising money for cancer related issues. The relay begins at 7 p.m. on Friday night, when cancer survivors will run the first lap, and ends at 7 a.m. on Saturday.
Other than the relay, there are several activities at the event, including a pancake eating contest early Saturday morning and three bands playing throughout the night.
Maureen Piercy, president of Loyalist College, believes that a strong part of the school’s mandate is to be integrated with the community. Piercy said it was wonderful seeing the community coming together to support such an important cause.
“Loyalist is proud to be involved and helping,” she said.
She also said that the event was very touching to her, and that it holds a special feeling that is hard to match.
Matthew Del Grosso, Relay for Life coordinator with the Canadian Cancer Society in Hastings and Prince Edward County, praised Loyalist College for its willingness to hold the event on its grounds. For 12 years the event was held at Loyalist, and there seems to be no plans to change that.
“This is the absolute most perfect home for Relay for Life,” he said.
He said that it was perfect because of the large space that Loyalist offers and the isolated setting, which gives them the ability to be as loud as they want.
Since the first Relay for Life in 1999, Hastings and Price Edward’s County has made, according to Del Grosso, over $3.3 million, including $260,000 at last year’s relay, which is significantly higher than the $160,000 made the first year.
Catholic School St. Josephs Greight Dragons currently have the highest amount raised, managing to donate over $10,000 for the event. Other top five teams in donations are the QuintEssential Clowns, who have raise just over $10,000, the Cancer Combatants, having raised just under $9,000, the Cookin’ Crew, who sit between $5,000 and $6,000, and Gee’s Girls, who have raised just over $4,000.
