As students, we are often swamped with assignments and other academic responsibilities, but it's important to take a step back and become aware of all the other aspects of the campus community that go towards helping others. As we all know, cancer is a devastating disease that affects millions of people worldwide and remains the leading cause of death in Canada. The Canadian Cancer Society is the only national charity that supports Canadians suffering from the disease, and they organize diverse fundraising efforts. An example is The Relay For Life event taking place in EME at the UBCO campus on March 25th. 

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Relay For Life is a collective that was started as a means to gather funds for the Canadian Cancer Society by organizing events that focus on creating awareness. These celebrate cancer survivors, while also honoring the lives of those who passed away fighting the disease. This event is a great way to connect with other students and build a sense of community, whilst also making a difference.

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To better understand the details of the fundraiser, I had a conversation with Emily Oliver, the co-chair of the Relay For Life event at UBCO. 

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Ana Mar Picazo: What kind of activities or programs will be featured at the event?

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Emily Oliver: We will have a bunch of games and activities; there will be a bouncy castle and different people we’re working with — such as RBC and Red Bull — will be there. There will also be a walk-a-thon portion, and we'll have different kinds of little craft things. We'll be painting things, and making luminary bag decorations that serve as a memorial symbol to honor the lives that have been lost to cancer.

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AP: How will the funds raised at the event be used to support cancer patients? 

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EO: All of our proceeds go directly to the Canadian Cancer Society. So, $15 helps ensure that support is just a phone call away for cancer survivors or people with a diagnosis. $50 provides a day of meals for someone staying at a cancer lodge. $100 helps fund immunotherapy research, and $250 helps fund critical research for people with metastatic cancer. $2,000 helps send one child to Camp Good Times, a medically supervised camp for the summer and finally, $6,000 allows one cancer patient to participate in a clinical trial. We also fund things such as meal support services, online services, etc. And so, the Canadian Cancer Society receives the money directly, and they decide how to distribute it. 

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AP: Are there any opportunities for community involvement or volunteer support leading up to, or during the event?

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EO: We always need more volunteers and participants. So, up until the event, we'll be accepting both. 

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AP: What message would you like to convey to people who are considering attending or supporting this event, and how can they get more involved in the future?

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EO: I think the main thing is that fundraising is really not as scary as it sounds, especially when it's such a universal cause like this. In terms of getting involved, you can contact us. We're always on social media and answering DMs. You can also come talk to us when we're tabling on campus as well, to learn more about the different opportunities to become involved.

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AP: What specific impact do you hope to achieve with the Relay For Life events? 

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EO: Cancer awareness is very important because early detection can do a lot in terms of treatment. Awareness also helps to break the stigma around cancer, and helps people  realize that it's not necessarily a life sentence. It also makes people more aware of the funding that needs to be done and the work that is still left, particularly in terms of government support. Social media is such a big one for us, I think especially in this day and age. The Canadian Cancer Society has platforms all the way from Instagram and Tiktok to Facebook. They post a lot of content that helps with awareness, such as statistics and other events and opportunities to become involved with the cause. 

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If you wish to sign up or volunteer at the event, you can find the information in the link below. We hope to see you on March 25th!

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https://linktr.ee/ubcorelay?fbclid=PAAabPsnma-uEPPTZ-cuOv5R3DIU7UOr4Rxq0INNf4rhIbTxzY3g5QkJCe_so

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