Marni Mullis spoke to those who came out Monday afternoon (Michael Joel-Hansen/paNOW Staff)

By Michael Joel-Hansen

Relay for Life

Relay for Life 2019 kicks off

Mar 25, 2019 | 5:02 PM

Relay for Life 2019 has officially kicked off in Prince Albert.

On Monday afternoon, the organizing committee hosted a fundraising barbecue at the Senator Allen Bird Memorial Gymnasium.

The event was hosted in the Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) facility due to the council’s relay for life team’s success raising money for the campaign last year.

“We were the top fundraiser last year,” said Corrine Fiddler, who is the manager for Spruce Lodge Boarding Home.

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Last year the PAGC’s efforts saw them raise over $9,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society. This year the group is aiming to hit over $15,000.

“It’s the support we that get from everybody who helps out with every fundraiser that we held, every barbecue every draw, everything like that,” she said.

To put on the barbecue the PAGC’s Relay for Life group got support and donations from Grey Cabs, Prince Albert Inn and Fiddler’s own business, which provided cupcakes.

“We hope to raise a lot of money today, we’re really happy to see the support,” Fiddler said.

The organizing committee also had a table set up to accept registration forms for the relay. Corrine Bernard, who serves as a co-chair on the survivors committee, said three signed up early that day.

Bernard has been involved with the Relay for Life for 15 years. She said the event has made some recent changes which she thinks have made it better.

“Last year we moved over the Kinsman Park and I think that was a wonderful change; it’s such a homey warm atmosphere,” she said.

For this year’s relay, Marni Mullis will serve as community champion.

“I consider it quite an honour, I’ve been working with the Relay for Life and the Canadian Cancer Society since I was diagnosed with cancer in 1995,” she said.

Mullis explained taking part in the walk as a survivor can be a powerful experience for someone who has battled the disease.

“When you march around the track and people are cheering you it just gives you a nice warm feeling when you know that people really care and they’re cheering you just for staying alive,” she said.

In her time taking part in the relay and be involved with the Canadian Cancer Society, Mullis said she is happy to see the developments in terms of research, which has led to improvements in treatment and diagnoses which can give people more time.

Looking forward to this year’s relay, Mullis said they are generally surprised when it comes to turnout.

“We always get really big surprises [because] lots of times it’s bigger than we think it’s going to be,” she said.

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MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn