THUNDER BAY - The Relay for Life made its return to Thunder Bay in a rejuvenated fashion, shattering its fundraising goal by more than $30,000.
On Saturday at the Legion Track and Field, more than 330 people participated in the cancer research fundraising event, which returned from its three-year absence.
“They showed up in droves,” said Maria Cabral, regional manager of the Canadian Cancer Society’s Northwest region.
Three years ago, Cabral and the Cancer Society decided to pull the event because of declining participation.
“This budgeted 150 participants,” she said. “It’s pretty amazing.”
The donations and participants far exceeded Cabral’s expectation, which she says is going through a revitalization locally.
“This is a fundraising event, and with every event comes expenses,” she said. “Sometimes when you pull something it makes people miss it. This year it came back with such a rejuvenation.”
Out of the $80,000 raised, almost 20 per cent came from Team Hacio.
They were relaying in support of Chris Hacio who died earlier this year from brain cancer.
His daughter, Andrea Hacio, said the community support has been overwhelming.
“It was very emotional seeing everyone’s stories. Seeing how everyone else was touched by (cancer).”
“The research is huge for us,” she said. “We went to Princess Margaret Cancer Centre for the treatment. It was so intense with the research and clinical trials. That’s what gave us so much hope when he was going through it.”
Andrea and her two sisters, Amanda and Melissa, have been leaders in the community for cancer fundraising.
Beanies for Brain Cancer, launched in February as a fundraiser for brain cancer research, has raised more than $33,000 since its launch.
“Obviously we wish our dad was a survivor here with us. But knowing by him passing we’re making a difference, we’re raising money and supporting everyone here,” she said.
To honour the late memory of her father, members of Team Hacio wore a shirt with a picture of Chris wearing a balloon hat.
“It just represented who he was. Goofy and down for whatever.”
