Aimee Gignac-Butt giggles when thinking about last year’s Relay for Life in Stephenville.
Aimee’s team, Jean Paul’s Rays of Sunshine, decked her out in a custom made gown as part of the event’s toilet paper wedding dress competition.
“It was fluffy at the bottom,” says the 10-year-old, using her hands to give an impression of the gown’s fullness.
Aimee and her sister, Isabelle, first got involved with Relay for Life in 2005 after losing their dad, Jean Paul, to cancer. Their team, comprised of friends and relations, aims to honour the girls’ father.
“I like spending time with my family and friends,” replies Aimee when asked about her favourite part of the relay, “and raising money for cancer research.”
The Canadian Cancer Society will host their eighth annual Relay for Life at Stephenville Middle School on June 25.
Deb Jones, event co-chair, says there are new activities planned to get as many people involved with relay as possible.
“If there are any new survivors interested in the survivors walk or other people looking to help out, they can drop into Debbie’s Video Shoppe (in Stephenville) and leave their name with Debbie Wilton,” she says.
“It’s time to start fundraising, pick your team name and plan costumes.” - Debbie Hawco, Relay for Life committee member
In addition, team captains can register their team and to pick up an information kit at the video rental store.
“It’s time to start fundraising, pick your team name and plan costumes,” adds Debbie Hawco, a relay steering committee member.
The Hawco family has been involved in the local relay since its inception in 2004 and will be entering a team again this year. Beth and Kate Stokes, along with various members of the Hawco family, will be walking to remember their Aunt Diane and Nan Sheila Hawco.
Many other family teams also return year after year to participate in the relay, including the Reid family.
Becky Reid, the daughter of Greg and Rochelle Reid, survived a battle with cancer at a young age and the family has been outspoken supporters of Relay for Life for several years.
