By Angela Hill

Stories of 2010, #10 Relay for Life success

Dec 22, 2010 | 5:46 AM

Prince Albert’s 10th annual Relay for Life smashe local records and broke provincial ones as more than $650,000 was raised.

In 2010, local businessman Malcolm Jenkins offered to double all donations up to $500,000 in honour of his late wife Melba.

“During her seven year battle with cancer we were very, very close to the (event). Unfortunately we lost that battle on Mar. 22 and this was coming up shortly after and this seemed like a good way to honour her memory in a substantial way,” Jenkins said.

During a previous year’s event, Melba had held the position of honorary chairwoman.

His offer attracted a lot of attention to the annual Canadian Cancer Society fundraiser.

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He said he wanted to take “the relay for life to a new level and I think in retrospect we did that because we got terrific response.”

The community gathered and raised more than $300,000 with donations pouring in from around the province as well as from across the country.

“This year was incredible for excitement around the Canadian Cancer Society with Relay for Life, everywhere you went people were talking about the generosity of Malcolm’s gift,” said Laurie Dent, manager of the Prince Albert branch of Canadian Cancer Society.

The largest numbers of teams were registered for the 2010 Relay for Life. The luminary ceremony was emotional as was the survivor walk, Jenkins said about the day.

“It ended up costing me my shirt, but that was all right because it was something memorable and I’ll it carry with me for the rest of my life,” Jenkins said.

In the end Jenkins matched $328,000.

“I don’t think retirements on my horizon,” he said, laughing.

All the funds raised at the event are being used to support cancer research and advocacy, as well as patient care, Dent said.

ahill@panow.com