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The Times Advocate, 2004-06-02, Page 1JOHN DEERE (519)235-1115 www.hurontractor.com INHURON TRACTOR �a d �a]c�� :age TIMES -ADVOCATE Exeter, Ontario, Canada Wednesday, June 2, 2004 x.25 (includes GST) Relay for Life raises $15,500 for cancer By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — South Huron District High School's first ever Relay for Life was an overwhelming success, raising $15,500 for cancer on the week- end. The 12 -hour event, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., May 28-29, saw 175 participants (including volunteers) walking the track at the high school to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society. The event's goal of $10,000 was quickly exceeded and attendance was strong, despite the frigid temperatures. Student Ben Martin had his head shaved, while principal Jeff Reaburn will have his head shaved during the school's final assem- bly. Relay of Life was run by a committee of SHDHS students, with help from teachers Stacey Park and Dave MacLeod. Students Shannon Baer and Meaghan Spence head- ed up the committee. After the event, Baer was enthusiastic about the results. "It was absolutely awesome," she said. The evening started with a brief opening ceremony, followed by a survivors' walk, which included those who have survived cancer or who are now fighting it, and their friends and families. After the survivors' walk, all participants started walking. Tents were set up in the middle of the track so walkers could get some rest (and warm up) between walking shifts during the night. All 16 teams had at least one person walk- ing for the entire 12 hours. "It was cold," Baer said of the evening, but added there were lots of activities such as sumo wrestling and karaoke in the gym. At dusk, candles were lit around the track, along with messages for cancer survivors or victims. The event finished with closing cere- monies, including the announcements of which individuals raised the most money, which team raised the most and who had the best decorated tent. "It went fantastic, better than planned," Baer said. "To make so much (money) was awesome . . . it was above and beyond all our expectations." The school has been working on Relay for Life for a few months. Once the committee was formed, they attended a conference in Brantford to show them what the relay would be like. Relay for Life will become a bi-annual event at South Huron, with the next walk planned for 2006. SEE PAGE 10 FOR ADDITIONAL COVERAGE Cancer survivors Carol Powe, left, and Kate Monk lead the survivors' wall< at last weekend's Relay for Life at South Huron District High School.The event was a big success, raising $15,500 for the Canadian Cancer Society. (photo/Scott Nixon) Grand Bend unveils new health centre By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF GRAND BEND — Six and a half years after efforts were made to start a new medical centre in Grand Bend, the brand new Grand Bend Area Community Health Centre (GBACHC) held its grand opening Saturday morn- ing. The sod turning for the nearly $3 million, 15,000 sq. ft., two-storey building was held in April 2003, with construction going until early this year. Saturday's grand opening included speeches, a rib- bon cutting and tours of the new state-of-the-art facility. Health centre board chairperson Don Tedford thanked the community for its financial and volun- teer support of the centre. He also paid tribute to for- mer MPPs Marcel Beaubien and Helen Johns, who helped get the process moving. Tedford also said he was grateful to Lambton Shores Mayor Cam Ivey, who helped the group overcome some obstacles along the way. Tedford said the GBACHC has a "magnifi- cent medical staff" and noted executive director Dan Steinwald was chosen from 108 candidates for the job. Lambton-Kent- Middlesex MPP Maria Van Bommel brought greetings from Minister of Health George Smitherman, who pointed out the impor- tance of community health centres. Van Bommel said such health centres bring together the expertise of doctors, nurse practition- ers, nurses and other pro- fessionals together. "The importance of CHCs cannot be overstat- ed," she said, adding they are a cost-effective alter- native to institutional care. While there are now 50 community health centres across the province, Van Bommel said the province will be increasing that number in the future. She also spoke of the community's strong role in the new Grand Bend cen- tre. "The commitment and the real work comes out of the community. Your work stands behind me and it's a wonderful build - mg„ Ivey called the new cen- tre "a fantastic facility" and thanked the board of directors for its work. Referring to the delays along the way, Ivey noted, "It's a government project — it takes a while." The official ribbon cutting for the new Grand Bend Area Community Health Centre was held Saturday morn- ing, followed by tours of the new building. From left are health centre board chairperson Don Tedford, facili- ties committee chairperson Roy Merkley, Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP MariaVan Bommel, Rev. Bill Ward of St. John's By The Lake Anglican Church and Lambton Shores Mayor Cam Ivey. (photo/Scott Nixon) Ivey also thanked the mayors of Lambton Shores' neighbouring municipalities, Bill Dowson and Rob Morley. "We have a first-rate facility," Ivey said. "And we have a better commu- nity for it." Late delivery for some TA readers Last week's T -A arrived late to the homes of some sub- scribers due to a change in the level of service provided by the Canada Post sorting station on Highbury Avenue in London. The Times -Advocate apologizes for the inconvenience this has caused and has taken immediate steps to ensure local sub- scribers will continue to get their newspaper delivered on Wednesday.