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Team spirit a driving force behind Relay for Life by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff 5 | Wednesday, April 17, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com For anyone battling cancer, the road can sometimes feel like a long and solitary one -- it's for that reason the Canadian Cancer Society puts on its Relay for Life as proof that cancer fighters are never alone. The non-competitive, festival-like, 12-hour overnight fundraiser can't help but unite cancer survivors and fighters, and their supporters under the decorated tent city erected at Appleby College every year. "Relay for Life symbolizes and honours a cancer patient's journey. For the thousands of Canadians fighting cancer right now, their journey is long and hard. From the shock of initial diagnosis, through days of treatment and the long nights that follow for them, cancer never sleeps, so neither do we," said Lisa Dale, fundraising co-ordinator for the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) Halton unit. Teams of 10-15 people take turns walking laps around a luminary lit track, keeping at least one member on the track at all times. One such team is Friends To The End, co-captained by Oakville resident France Gaudry, who says witnessing the spirit of the teams participating in Relay for Life can be very touching and at times, overwhelming. "It's unbelievable how emotional you get when you stand by the survivors that are Team Friends To The End walk at last year's Oakville Relay for Life, with team members Eleanor Lummis, Andrea de Berteau and Lise Pujo who are flight attendants. | Oakville Beaver file photo opening the relay when they do the first lap... There are people from every walk of life and age, from toddlers to seniors. You know they've all experienced and lived through cancer... It's very moving," she said. "And when they light up the luminaries along the track that just sends shivers. Everyone is reflecting on the loved ones that they've lost or going through the disease and it's very emotional." Gaudry co-captains the team -- made up of flight attendants -- with Lise Pujo. MTO Approved Originally started in 2007 and based in Mississauga, the team was headed by cancer-survivor Cathy O'Connor, but when she retired last year, Gaudry took over the role along with Pujo and moved the team to Oakville. "Cathy did very well to rally people around her success to beat cancer... she had put so much effort in getting this team up and running, so we wanted to keep it going," Gaudry said. "As a flight attendant group, we are all touched by cancer... we all have a serious number of colleagues and family members who have been affected by the disease. So, as soon as we mentioned we had put the team together, we had people coming out of the woodwork to join us and even people I had not met before contacted us asking how they could join and help out." The 15-member team has raised $55,851 since its inception and, so far, for this year's event, Friends to the End has currently raised $12,239 (as of Tuesday) making them the top fundraising team in Oakville. In fact, Gaudry says one team member recently posted on her Facebook page, jokingly, that if people were still looking for birthday gifts for her they could donate to her team -- she ended up raising $2,000 in four days. "It makes me feel great that people want to get involved to kick cancer... People are really see Spirit on p.10 Let's Play Bingo! OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 483 Speers Rd. Oakville,(905) OAKVILLE'S DEFENSIVE DRIVING SCHOOL Without Compromise The Best Price for Driver Training in Town · Maximum Insurance Discount · Easy Payment Plan 21 · Patience and Courtesy Is Our Virtue YEARS YEARS · Modern Dual-Controlled Car · Course Fee May Be Tax Deductible EXPERIENCE · Driving Tests Arranged · Specialist In Teaching Nervous Beginner WEEKEND COURSE www.deltabingo.com 842-0876 May 4-5,11-12 May 25-26, Jun 1-2 All Lessons are Private 905.469.8880 · drivingedge.ca · info@drivingedge.ca 2448 Lakeshore Rd. West · Unit 18, 2nd Floor $ DEFENSIVE DRIVING COURSE *Promotional price subject to change anytime. 400* + HST Fight for something you love. Join the Revolution. The world and our environment needs heroes and leaders, and the ability to become one has never been easier, or more necessary. ~ Rob Stewart Dearcroft Montessori School congratulates Rob Stewart on the Canada-wide release of his epic documentary ­ Revolution. Sponsored by Dearcroft Montessori School & FREE SCREENING AND APPEARANCE Thursday April 18, 7:20 pm at Cineplex (AMC) Theatres, Winston Churchill. BY ROB STEWART R.S.V.P. required. · Please call Dearcroft · 905 844-2114 · www.dearcroft.com