This year’s Relay for Life cancer fundraiser has been cancelled because lack of participation. The event has been dwindling for several years, moving from a full-blown effort with hundreds of participants camping out around Centennial Park, to a scaled-down indoor version at the Battleford Arena.
With it’s symbolism and tributes to survivors and victims, Relay for Life was truly a powerful experience, but it was also a time-consuming one for organizers and participants. Burnout is the most likely cause of its demise. Longtime supporters were not replaced by new enthusiasts and interest waned among others.
One cancer fundraising tradition that prevails in one form or another across Canada is the Terry Fox Run. Schools particularly excel at supporting the run and promoting its history to young people.
The Terry Fox Run has had a quiet presence in the Battlefords in recent years. Perhaps Relay for Life supporters should turn their energies to that quarter. The Terry Fox Run has a straightforward uncomplicated format, requiring less man hours and effort to organize and co-ordinate. Rejuvenating interest would be one way to fill the hole created by the cancellation of Relay for Life.
