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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2006-06-21, Page 7News Tracy's Go -Getters top group fundraising for Relay for Life Ben Fo-rrest Tracy's Go -Getters, a team composed of friends and family of Egmondville's Tracy Lee, were the top fundraising group for the Canadian Cancer Society Relay For Life, held June 16-17 in Goderich. The Go -Getters raised over $5,500, contributing to .the roughly $81,630 raised in total for the Goderich event. Lee was also the second -most successful individual fundraiser, collecting over $1,200. "It's nice," Lee said on June 18 when asked how it feels to be in such a position. "It's a nice feeling that we were making a difference." Lee said she and her four-year- old son Caden went out looking for pledges on their bicycles and found that, as she puts it, "amazing people in our community" who offered funds. "It's good to live in this area," she said. The total for this year's event is down from the $109,000 total raised in 2005. Still, the total raised this year is not disap- pointing, said Janis Cunningham, unit man- ager for the Huron -Perth Unit of the Canadian Cancer Society. "It's an amazing total for us to be receiving from a Relay for Life event," she said. `We're very thrilled that the communities in Huron County are still taking up the fight against cancer. We think it's wonderful." Lee is a cancer survivor and is dedicated to Relay for Life because of it. Diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer at age 25, she has been cancer -free for four years. For each of those years she has been involved with the fundraiser. There are about 10 Go -Getters in all, including Lee and her Seaforth-area parents, Deb and Ken Janmaat, her sisters, and "lots of aunts and uncles," Lee said. She added later that her husband, Brett Lee, was also a great supporter. Including guests, there were about 20 persons associated with the Go -Getters who attended the relay itself, held on the track across from Goderich District Collegiate Institute. "It was excellent," Tracy said of the 2006 relay. "There was a nice breeze, and it was beautiful." The event began at 7 p.m. last Friday with the Survivor Walk, which Lee completed with her father-in-law Chris, also a cancer sur- vivor. The event continued through the night, ending at 7 a.m. the next morning. Lee said she will be involved in the relay again next year, and encourages others to get involved as well. "I think it's very important that other peo- ple just even show up there (at the relay itself) just to see what it's all about, get a team, find the cure (for cancer). It's an excel- lent experience. I've invited a lot of my friends that weren't able to make it for all of it, but just to come up anyways. It's a good time." For more information about Relay for Life, visit www cancer.ca. Tracy Lee Seaforth survivor, fitness class participate in Relay for Life Susan Hundertmark A 15 -year survivor of breast cancer, Joan Chesney, of Seaforth, has been walking the survivor's lap at the Relay for Life since it began three years ago in Goderich and for three years before that in Stratford. "My husband always watch- es me walk it. It's very heart- warming and kind of over- whelming. It can be a tear jerker," she says. As well as walking herself, Chesney says she often sees people she didn't realize had cancer on the survivor's lap. "It's very humbling," she adds. This year for the second year, Chesney has also worked at the Relay for Life as a volunteer on the food committee. Chesney decided she need- ed to volunteer when the event began being offered in Huron County. As a member of the food committee, she asks local merchants for donations of food and helps to feed the hundreds of participants. "We cooked 700 burgers and they were all gone after sup- per. And, we fed 250 people for breakfast," she says. While the 12 -hour event begins at 7 p.m., the food committee was there Friday by 9 a.m., slicing tomatoes and onions, beginning to feed people at 5 p.m. Chesney stayed Friday night until midnight, went home for a quick sleep and was back at 4 a.m. to start making breakfast. "It's a lot of fun. You meet a lot of people and everyone is very nice because you're feed- ing them," she says. By 7 a.m., the event was over with the final ceremony. A first-time Seaforth team in the Relay for Life this year was the "Hidden Six -Packs," consisting of 11 women who take Ruth Feeney's fitness class in Seaforth. While a few members of the class have battled with can- cer, Feeney says all of the members of the team had some exposure to cancer Through family members. Its true what the speaker said that one way or another, cancer touches you," she says. "The girls were really willing to do the walk. I think people should 'experience it even if just to listen to the speeches." The Hidden Six -Packs raised over $2,000 for Relay for Life. The Huron Expositor • June 21, 2006, 2006 Page 7 When Accldenti Huppen... Call Mark at . COLLISION REPAIR • GLASS INSTALLATION INSURANCE CLAIMS WELCOME • RENTAL CARS AVAILABLE We use quality aUP�Nr performance coatings 220 Main St., S., Seaforth 527-2291 You are invited to attend these area churches St. Thomas Anglican Church A Congregation of the Parish of The Holy Spirit Jarvis St. Seaforth 527-1522 Rector. The Rev'd Sue Malpus. M. Div Sunday, June 25 Anniversary Sunday Worship 9:30 am service Join us for Cake and Coffee following the service Parish Council Sat. June 24 at 11am Everyone Welcome St. James Roman Catholic Church Welcomes you 14 Victoria Street, Seaforth 527-0142 Weekend Masses: Sat 5:15 pm Sun. 11:00 am. Fr. Chris Gillespie -Bethel Bible Church 'An Associated Gospel Church 126 Main St. Seaforth 527-0982 Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m. Youth Activities Wednesday 7:00 p.m. Pastor Mark Kennedy EVERYONE WELCOME NORTHSIDE UNITED CHURCH 54 Goderich St. W. Rev. John Gould June 25th, 2006 Worship 11:00 a.m. Sermon: "Paradoxical People" Nursery During Worship Adult & Teen Bible Discussion 9:30 a.m. E mondvi l le United Church Sunday June 25 Worship 11 am Sun., July 2 & 9 No Service - Church Closed EVERYONE WELCOME Steve Hildebrand Lay Pastoral Minister First Presbyterian Church Goderich St. W., Seaforth Rev. Henry Huberts Sunday, June 25th Worship 11:15 a.m. Guest Minister Rev. Jan McInnes Sunday School & Nursery Provided ST. VINCENT de PAUL 81 Mill St. Dublin 29 Nelson St. Mitchell Father Alan Dufraimont Office 345-2972 Mass Times St. Patricks St. Vincent de Paul Sunday 11:00 a.m. Sat. 5:00 p.m. Sun. 9:00 a.m. Wheelchair Accessible - Everyone Welcome ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH