CANCER CRUSADE

It's remarkable what a Labrador town of 350 residents has accomplished.

Since it began four years ago, the Charlottetown Relay for Life has raised some $60,000 to combat cancer.

Joyce Earle spearheaded the event after her husband, Ray Turnbull, died of cancer.

"Everybody helped so much that I just wanted to give back in some way, and I felt this was the best way, and also to keep his memory alive," Ms. Earle said. "The whole community came out to support, either by volunteering or just showing up. You knock on a door and there's always somebody to help you out."

This year's 12-hour relay, held at William Gillett Academy June 5 and 6 (7 p.m.-7 a.m.), raked in $20,284.61, nearly double the amount raised four years ago. Also, the number of cancer survivors doubled in the past two years, with 12 attending last year's event and 25 this year. In addition, a record 600 luminaries were sold.

Six teams pitched colourful tents, draped with team slogans, in the rain-drenched school parking lot: Two Charlottetown teams, Outlaw Cancer and Hot for a Cure, the Cancer Spookers from Pinsent's Arm, Port Hope Simpson's Eternal Flame and two new teams, the Straits Rebels out of L'Anse au Loup and Cruising for a Cure out of Cartwright.

Each member of the 10-person team raised a minimum of $100.

"In total we raised over $3,000; that's with pledges plus the selling of the luminary candles," Straits Rebels team leader Vanessa Normore James said.

"I know we've had a lot of people question as to where the money is going, I guess because where we're from Labrador, and in order for us to get into St. John's - you know exactly what travel is like here - and they're hoping our money is going to go into the Daffodil Place."

Located in St. John's, the Canadian Cancer Society's Daffodil Place is a hostel for cancer patients and their families to serve rural Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who have to travel to the capital for treatment.

In their first year attending the event, the Straits Rebels were awarded the Turnbull Memorial Cup Award, presented to the most spirited team at the relay.

Ms. James said the Straits team wanted to participate in the relay because cancer has impacted the lives of her team members in and around L'Anse au Loup and Pinware.

"Cancer hit us hard over the last couple of years."

During the event, it seemed everyone has been touched with the disease.

Clementine Williams, one of four survivors on the Cartwright team, was diagnosed with stomach cancer on Oct. 30, 2007. Two days later, she underwent an operation which claimed two-thirds of her stomach. Since then, she's gone through radiation treatment and five rounds of chemotherapy.

"It's affected a lot of us in a lot of ways," Ms. Williams said. "I've got a big family and a lot of friends, so I've had a lot of support that way, but this is also a great means of support here for anybody who's going through it too. This is great to be able to be together like this, and in some way I guess you celebrate with your family, even though there's a sadness to it."

Muriel Hedderson, team leader for Port Hope Simpson, agreed.

"For me, cancer is in the family, the community: My mom had cancer, my son had cancer and survived, my cousins," she said.

"I'm still in hope that we will come up with enough money to find a cure."