Relay for Life worries

In the past six years Labrador West has taken-year after year-the success of the Relay for Life over and above expectation.

Last year's Canadian Cancer Society's event attracted 45 teams from both Lab. West and Fermont which netted over $155,000.

Just a couple of weeks away from this year's Relay (June 12) organizers are puzzled and concerned with the low registration as they struggle to understand what's discouraging teams.

"We have sent out emails to all [past participating] teams," said steering committee chair Thelma Ricketts, "but so far there are only 11 teams from Labrador West registered and seven teams from Fermont. We are not getting people onboard for teams for some reason. We have a wonderful steering committee in place but normally, we would have at least 30 or more onboard by this time."

Rumour has it

Ricketts said she doesn't know for sure what the problem is, no one has explained to her directly, but she has gotten a squint of what might be causing the low numbers.

"We've heard rumours that people are saying 50 per cent of the money -raised in the Relay-goes to administration and that there's no benefits for Labrador," she said. "We know that is wrong. For one, I wouldn't volunteer if that much was going into administration."

Ann Marie Riviere, also a member of the steering committee, figures it's more than that.

"The other reason, I am hearing, is people figure the money should stay here in Labrador West," she said. "And I think that is the main reason the numbers are down."

Rickett's agreed that might be the main reason, but said, keeping the money locally isn't what the fundraiser is about.

"I don't think it should stay here because Relay for Life is part of Canadian Cancer Society and it represents everyone in Canada; but now our money is raised for Newfoundland and Labrador," she explained. "For instance last year we raised $155,000, but now $155,000 didn't come out of the pockets of the people of Labrador West. That was our total from the Labrador West-Fermont Relay. We had about $30,000 from Fermont, and online there was another $38,000 raised. So you are talking about $68,000 that didn't come from the people of Labrador West. If someone is registered online, for example, it can come from people elsewhere in the world. So, in reality, we are less than $100,000, and I don't want to be petty, but I want people to know, it's not all local."

Research is key

Ricketts said, she doesn't know the exact percentage but approximately 70 cent of monies raised goes into research.

"And I can tell you, without that research," Ricketts stressed, "there would be a lot of people not with us today. We fund major universities, like MUN in research. Daffodil Place is really big now and we know people who've come back and spoken very highly of Daffodil Place. It's affordable; it's $25 per night and that includes three meals and there's vehicle to take people back and forth for their treatments and there's a support group there."

Ricketts said the funds are indeed helping the people of Labrador West, even though it doesn't stay in the area.

"Our money goes into Newfoundland and Labrador, it stays in the province," Ricketts explained. "But, the benefits for Labrador West is the research, people are living longer like Anne Marie's husband. Locally we provide wigs, turbans, prosthesis, all the pamphlets on cancers, the support system (Cancer Connection) which is a toll free number people can call 24/7 and that's all paid for by this money."

Makes her sad

Riviere said, if people are second-guessing the value of this effort, it makes her very sad and she hopes people will decide to come onboard and register very soon.

"It makes me sad, because we have so many people here in town that have cancer or who've survived cancer," she said. "This is a celebration of their life really. I have been there so many times. For me, I am walking because my next-door neighbour was just told she has to have surgery for the third time for cancer, my uncle was just diagnosed in March and had surgery and he does not even know what he is facing yet...and I am walking for all people with cancer."

One thing the women say there is no shortage of and that is the number of survivors registered to take part in their own special part of the event.

"We have 80 cancer survivors registered so far," said Ricketts. "And they are the reason research is so important, without it they might not have survived."

Whatever the reason keeping many of the teams from stepping up again this year, the two organizers are hoping people will call if they have concerns or call the Canadian Cancer Society if there's any questions they have.