This weekend marks the 3rd annual Lakeland Relay for Life, a fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society.
The event is scheduled for June 22 at the Energy Centre in Cold Lake, starting off with a Survivors' Victory Lap at 7 p.m. and ending 12 hours later, at 7 a.m.
The event is an opportunity for cancer survivors and their support systems, and for those who have lost someone to cancer to come together to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society. It is a chance to celebrate those who have battled cancer, remember those who have lost their lives to the disease and fight back against it.
It's hard to find a person who has not been touched by cancer. Events like this one give those who have battled the disease and those who have had someone close to them affected by it a chance to fight against it, to do something. Cancer is a terrifying disease and the Relay for Life keeps us from feeling helpless against it.
At press time, there were 26 teams registered for the Lakeland Relay for Life, and online teams had raised nearly $50,000.
Haying in the 30s is another opportunity for residents to come together and give back, to support those battling cancer. The event, which takes place in Mallaig, is a cancer support fundraiser, where 100 per cent of the proceeds support those in our community undergoing treatment for cancer.
On Aug. 4 and 5, Mallaig offers visitors the opportunity to step back in time, with horse-drawn machinery demonstrations to see how things were done in the 30s. The event includes a Saturday night Hoe Down, live music all day, and an inter-faith church sermon on Sunday with gospel music.
Haying in the 30s has become a staple of summers in the Lakeland. With free admission and free camping, the event raises thousands of dollars each summer to help on a local level.
There are plenty of opportunities here in the Lakeland to give back, to support those affected by cancer, to celebrate those who overcame it and to remember those who did not.
