This year's 24 Hour Relay for Life has once again set new records for money raised and people involved - all with a rookie event co-ordinator at the helm. Erin Reynolds took over the planning less than a year prior to the event and credits the board of directors with a key decision: starting her official duties a few months earlier than in the past. That was critical foundation time for her, coming in like she did with no prior experience other than as one of the walkers doing laps on the track to raise money for the people in her life who had been afflicted with cancer. As the tents were coming down, the stages were disassembled and the money was counted, Sunday morning, a sense of ecstatic relief came over her. "It has been a long process to get this event up and running and I am kind of sad now that it's over," Reynolds said. "It looks like we have raised upwards of $450,000 which we are excited about because last year we raised $410,000. We had 155 teams this year out on the track, 15 more than last year. We had close to 2,400 participants, it was crazy, that is about 400 more than last year." She was especially gratified at 4 a.m. as she counted the heads circling Masich Place Stadium and saw as many people putting in their late night shift as there were teams entered in the event. "That really shows you how committed people are to this event and what it means," she said. "You just feel everyone's energy, feel that everyone is here for the same reason. That really helped me with the transition to co-ordinator because it is so mission-driven." She oversaw the implementation of some new elements to Canada's one and only 24-hour relay to raise cancer funds. The committee is very cognizant of what the conditions are down on the track, what participants enjoy or don't respond to, she said, and they made some changes that, in hindsight, were successfully embraced by the public. This year saw a dance floor added that had demonstrations done by local groups as well as public use while the live music was playing. There were some fireworks this year for the first time. She even hinted at some plans already afoot for next year. Gratifying to her were scenes like the always touching closing ceremonies, an Alberta man who used to live in PG named Trevor Patenaude who did the long distance effort to put a team in the event, and even her own elementary-aged daughter Jade who cut off 10 inches of her hair to donate to the making of wigs for kids in cancer treatment. Jade raised $1,000 in the process. "It is very inspiring to have a committee of volunteers, and Canadian Cancer Society employees who work with the passion of volunteers, who are so proactive in their approach to planning," Reynolds said. "I can't wait to start work on next year." Well, after a long sleep that is.
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