By Ryan Pilon

Relay for life rewards fundraisers

Jun 14, 2011 | 6:50 AM

Finding the cure for cancer hits very close to home for this year’s honourary chair of the Prince Albert Relay for Life, Malcolm Jenkins.

His wife, Melba Jenkins, was the honourary chair four years ago and passed away from cancer on Mar. 22, 2010.

“Melba was diagnosed with stage four bone cancer nine years ago, she was given perhaps a year. And through her will to live, we made it seven and a half years,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins said he was pleased to reward the top three fundraising teams for this year’s Prince Albert Relay for Life with gift certificates to Canadian Tire.

The PAGC Life, Light & Hope team were the top fundraisers for the second consecutive year, raising $10,237.57 and received a gift certificate worth $2,000.

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The second place team, the Studs & Peelers, was only $3.02 behind and received a $1,000 gift certificate.

Rene’s Runners raised $8,375.00 and received a $500 certificate.

Jenkins didn’t stop there, however. La Ronge decided to run their own Relay for Life event and Jenkins told them if they could raise $50,000, he would match it. They ended up raising $90,000.

In total, Prince Albert and La Ronge raised $360,000.

“Raising the money, of course, is very, very important in terms of research, in terms of our advocacy programs, and prevention, and what we do for patients who are coping with the disease,” said Laurie Dent, the manager of the Prince Albert Unit of the Canadian Cancer Society.

Jenkins said cancer treatment has come a long way and believes that eventually the disease will be defeated.

“We’re going to get a nice, big box, we’re going to lift the lid, we’re going to put cancer in there with diphtheria, with smallpox, with polio, and we’re going to put the lid down on the box, and we’re going to put honking great screws in there so it can never be opened again,” said Jenkins.

“And my great grandkids will say, ‘What are you doing this week?’ and I’ll say I’m giving a speech about cancer, and they’ll say, ‘What the hell is cancer?’ And that will be wonderful.”

rpilon@panow.com