Relay for Life 2013

The Relay for Life was held Saturday May 25^th at the Co-Op Rink. Great food was served as people gathered to celebrate the victors against cancer and remember those who have passed away.

Did you know that the Canadian Cancer Society is celebrating its 75^th Anniversary in 2013?  I hope it won’t reach 100 because it achieves its goals; however, I’m enough of a realist to realize that if cancer is around I hope the Canadian Cancer Society is around just as long.

Relay for Life is an inspirational, non-competitive, 12-hour overnight fundraising event that brings you and your community together to celebrate life and fight cancer. Relay has a festival-like atmosphere that your family, friends and co-workers can enjoy regardless of age or fitness level!  Kindersley has been hosting a Relay for Life event since 2000. Congratulations!

Here is the link for the Canadian Cancer Society.

I learned last night that $0.93 of every $1 raised in Saskatchewan stays in Saskatchewan.

It was very encouraging to see so many people come out. Cancer is a disease that does not discriminate. On a personal note my step-father is dealing with cancer, my uncle has just come through managing prostrate cancer, and my mother-in-law has been cancer free for so long we can’t remember when she came off of tamoxifen.

As I have watched friends and family interact with cancer I can’t help but think that the challenge, as with other tragedies, is to ensure that we rise above the disease. It is easy to let the disease define who we are and take over our identity; but our challenge is how we will let it work for good in our life and in the lives of our friends and family.

Congratulations to the Relay for Life Committee of 2013! They include:

Co-Chairs: Brenna MacDougall & Jamie Ward

Luminaries: Jeanne Krentz

Food Services: Michelle Clarke & Alana Eisenkirch

Survivors: Terry Bosch & Esther Boyd

Coordinator: Dean Butcher

Accounting: Jeanette & Dave Halpenny, Miranda Wu, Jen Wagner

Receiving special recognition for the 64 cancer patients she has mentored was Karen Callsen from Flaxcombe

And numerous volunteers, without whom the Relay would not have been a success!

On behalf of the Town thank you for everything!

Just a quick update on our efforts to enhance health care in Kindersley:

·         A new doctor is starting on or about May 27^th.

·         Councillor McTaggart and I have been working to have someone represent Kindersley on the Regional Health Authority Board.

·         Kindersley has more doctors in the recruitment pipeline and are optimistic to have 7 or 8 by Christmas; however, there are no guarantees.

·         We are working with both Heartland Health and the Clinic to ensure that we have the best healthcare in Kindersley.