CORNER BROOK — Stephanie Snow has participated in several of the Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay for Life events in her hometown of Botwood.
But, when she takes part in Grenfell Campus, Memorial University’s second-ever event Saturday, it will be a Relay for Life like none other for the first-year student at the Western Regional School of Nursing.
Snow has a 17-year-old friend from Botwood currently battling cancer, something she admits has given her more perspective on the deadly disease.
“You actually see what people go through when they’re fighting cancer,” Snow said. “It makes it so much more important to raise money ... so not so many have to be fighting this.”
The relay runs from 7 p.m. Saturday to 7 a.m. Sunday and Snow said there’s little doubt thoughts of her friend will be foremost in her heart.
“For what he’s going through, he’s real positive and he has plenty of support from friends and family,” she said of her friend, who will participate in MUN’s version of the relay Saturday in St. John’s. “I will be thinking about him this weekend for sure and he’s going to be doing the relay in St. John’s at MUN at the same time.”
While this relay likely won’t include cancer survivors, Snow expects there will be emotional, heart-wrenching moments of hope and love as participants gather to make a stand against cancer.
“Everyone is affected by it, so when you see people getting emotional, it’s just very powerful,” she said. “We’re hoping people will still get that message even though there won’t be survivors there.”
Danielle Cole, co-chair of the event, said there are four teams currently registered for the all-night relay, which doubles last year’s entrants.
The native of Grand Falls-Windsor said as a second-year event, organizers are hoping to see interest grow in a cause she hopes will become an annual one.
“It’s a bit of a different relay, but it should be a lot of fun,” Cole said. “We’re still trying to see what works best and what doesn’t. We’re hoping that with each year, we will get more people interested.”
There is still time to register for the relay or to volunteer. To do so, visit cancer.ca/nl, click the Relay for Life Logo and select Grenfell Campus as your location.
For more information, contact Cole at dsm.cole@gmail.com
