Like many who are put in the situation, Prince Rupert’s Cathy Quane discovered a close family member had been diagnosed with a life-altering disease and didn’t know what she could do to help.
While Quane knew when Barb, her sister-in-law, was diagnosed with glioblastoma there wasn’t anything she could physically do to assist with the recovery of the disease, she discovered there was a way she could help others battling cancer and hopefully prevent others from being diagnosed.
In 2006 Quane got a team of people together to participate in Prince Rupert’s Relay for Life event, and has returned to the track every year since.
That first year Quane’s team, Barb.Com’s Army, worked together to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society they even had a friendly competition going with another team to see which team could raise the most. Quane remembers her team only being slightly behind in their fundraising total. A dedicated Quane decided she would put her hair on the line in hopes of getting a boost in donations.
“I said if I got $1,000 in an hour, I would shave my head. Well, I got $1,800 in half an hour,” she said.
Newly bald, Quane was questioned by people if she had cancer, and said she got to feel what those living with the disease face.
“You don’t really know what happens to someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes,” she said.
The name Barb.Com’s Army was choosen because Quane’s sister-in-law absolutely hated computers, and because a lot of peole are needed to assist with those diagnosed with cancer.
“When someone has a battle it takes a whole army of people — doctors, nurses, family and friends. It’s takes more than one person when you’re sick. I think the bigger army you have, the more support you have,” Quane said.
Quane’s sister-in-law lost her battle with cancer five years ago, but she has continued to participate in the relay.
“I miss her everyday. I think cancer might have kicked her butt, but she gave it a run for the money. She had strength and determination and that made us feel better,” Quane said.
Quane continued to rally up team members following her relative’s passing and was the chair for Prince Rupert’s Relay for Life for a few years to do her part to end the disease once and for all.
“Everybody’s been touched by cancer personally, either a co-worker, friend or a family member. This is how you give back, because the Cancer Society does good work... I have a lot of friends who have lost the battle, but many are winning their battles. This is how I show them support,” she said.
“When you hear those words from the doctor, ‘You have cancer’, I think those are very terrible, gut wrenching words to hear,” Quane said.
“Cancer is there and we have to accept it, but we don’t have to take it laying down,” Quane said.
Quane estimates her team has raised close to $60,000 in the years they’ve been participating in Prince Rupert’s Relay for Life without any large-scale fundraising events.
“If five people give you $20 that’s $100, which pays for a kid battling cancer to go to camp for one day,” she said.
While Quane has lowered her involvement with organizing the 2013 event, she will still be helping by volunteering and participating as a team.
Barb.Com’s Army is aiming to raise $5,000 this year and is one of 14 teams registered at this point.
Like this year’s organizers, Quane hopes more teams come out to participate in the fundraising event that honours those who lost their lives to cancer, supports those battling the disease and fights back against cancer by raising money for research.
Although Prince Rupert’s event has consistently raised an impressive amount of money, Terrace raised more than double what Prince Rupert’s event did last year, with Quane saying they are able to do it because of their larger group of dedicated organizers. While Prince Rupert still raises tens of thousands of dollars each year, there has only been approximately six people doing all of the organizing over the past few years.
“You can only do so much when you’re one of six,” she said.
Quane said while donations for the event are always welcomed with open arms, organizers also encourage people to help in any way they can.
“Prince Rupert is a giving community, and I know there’s only so many dollars... Give us your time. Time is just as valuable if not more so,” she said.
Quane said there’s lots of ways to get involved with the event, from entering as part of a team to helping out with the behind the scenes stuff, like baking, put up and take down, kids activities and more.
Quane said anyone interested in entering a team for this year’s Relay for Life is encouraged to contact her at 250-624-9566, or register online at www.relaybc.ca.
Additionally, people interested in volunteering for the event in other ways are also asked to contact Cathy.
The 2013 relay will take place at the Prince Rupert Middle School track on Saturday, June 1.