HHS Relay for Life raises more than $21,000 for Canadian Cancer Society

On June 21, Huntsville High School (HHS) students held a 12-hour Relay For Life. The goal: to raise $30,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society.

More than 200 students and teachers on almost 40 relay teams with names like Sweat for Survival, Up All Night for the Fight, and OnTrac: Teachers Running Against Cancer committed to walk the track at Huntsville’s Lookout Field from noon until midnight.

It’s a disease that many of the students have been affected by in their own lives.

“We have all been touched by cancer in one way or another and today we will honour and celebrate our loved ones and their battles,” said Emma Solecki, one of the student organizers, adding that her good friend Emma Collins, her aunt and her granddad are the people in her own life who have fought or are currently fighting the disease.

“We have come here today for different reasons, but also for the same reason: because an estimated 131,300 cases of cancer will be diagnosed in Canada this year and an estimated 76,000 Canadians will lose their lives,” said Solecki. “These are our families, friends and neighbours, the people we love and care about. We are here because we have the power to fight cancer and save lives.”

In the video below, Solecki’s friend and fellow HHS student Emma Collins talks about her current, and second, battle with cancer—she relapsed just two days before prom this year. She and other cancer survivors led the relay teams on their first lap at the Lookout Field.

The students join more than 110,000 participants in 415 Relay For Life events across Canada who have together raised more than $25 million for research and support for people diagnosed with cancer.

As of publication time, the HHS Relay For Life event had raised $21,233.53. If you’d like to support their cause with a donation, head to relayforlife.ca/hhs.

(From left) Ashley Fergusson, teacher Greg Young, Cassie Campbell, and Vicki Collier from the HHS culinary program get ready to serve hungry relayers

(Clockwise from back left) Kaitlyn Wright, Hayley Duquesnay, Evangeline Perentesis, and Sarah Webster are ready to relay

F.R.I.E.N.D.S. (from left) Kloe Williams, Emma Mackinnon, Hannah Cassidy, Hilda Chan, Elle-Aura Simpson and Briar Summers

Relay for Life is about HOPE

Members of the Hawaiian Helpers relay team (from left) Taiya Carter, Ella Joiner, Megan Cameron, Nathan Sharpe, and Kenzie Nichols

Cancer survivors (from left) Tracey Takacs, Gwen Sykes, Lynn Smith, Ruth Greenleaf, Emma Collins, JoAnn Barton, Tori Dimytruk, Jaida Hector and Iza Mabanza. Missing from photo: Abby Koop and Nathan Sharpe.

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