The 24th annual Relay for Life took 24 hours to complete, after many months of planning and collecting sponsorships, but it was well worth the effort.
It provided a half-million dollar boost in the fight against cancer.
At Sunday's closing ceremony at Masich Place Stadium, it was announced that the 2016 Relay raised a total of $505,000.
"It's absolutely phenomenal," said Melanie Blake, co-chair of the event's leadership committee. "You never know what's going to happen year to year. We've had tremendous support, and we asked a lot of the community, to do that much fundraising. The teams get more creative every year so it just goes to show how much the teams support what we do, and how much the community supports those teams."
Aimee Cassie, Relay For Life coordinator on behalf of the Canadian Cancer Society, said she is "beyond thrilled" with the amount of money raised.
"We just had a fabulous weekend and I really think those numbers reflect the energy of Prince George , the passion of Prince George and the determination in the fight against cancer," Cassie said.
In terms of fundraising, this year's event is ahead of last year's. At the closing ceremony in 2015, the announced total was $468,233. After all the post-Relay donations had been collected, the dollar figure climbed past $519,000 and that amount made Prince George's Relay the most financially successful in Canada for the second year in a row.
The 2014 Relay For Life hit a record total of $600,000.
"Number one aside, the Relay For Life I think has won everyone's hearts yet again," Cassie said. "And number one aside, this was a win."
In its 24th year in Prince George, the relay started at 10 a.m. on Saturday and wrapped up at 10 a.m. on Sunday. Donations, however, can be made until the end of August. To donate online, go to www.relayforlife.ca/princegeorge. Donations can also be made at the local Canadian Cancer Society office, located at 1100 Alward Street.
Nationwide, the Relay For Life is the Canadian Cancer Society's signature fundraiser. Money is put toward life-saving research and cancer prevention initiatives. As well, it is used to support people who are fighting the disease.
The Relay For Life also provides the chance for participants to celebrate victories against cancer, to remember those who have been lost to the disease and to fight back against it. The Prince George Relay opened with a victory lap by survivors and caregivers and featured a luminary ceremony - or ceremony of remembrance - at 10 p.m. on Saturday.
"I hope that we have inspired people," Cassie said. "There was such a sense of community, and pride in the volunteers and pride in the participants. I will remember it forever."
This year, 117 teams registered for the Relay, and 25 individuals were recognized for completing all 24 hours. One of the successful 24-hour walkers was Colin Blondin, who was undergoing cancer treatment at the time of last year's Relay. Last year, Blondin was so weak that he was only able to attend the closing ceremony.
The last official act of the 2016 Relay was a draw for a car. For every $500 a participant raised, he or she had one ticket placed in a draw barrel for a chance to win one of three vehicles provided by Northland Auto Group - a 2016 Dodge Dart SE, a 2015 Micra S Automatic or a 2015 Hyundai Accent Sedan.
The winners were Mark and Heather Blondin - parents of Colin Blondin - and they chose the Hyundai Accent Sedan.
Also Sunday morning, Les Waldie was announced as the winner of a WestJet raffle. The prize was a return trip for two to any scheduled WestJet destination.
Next year's Relay For Life in Prince George will be a milestone one, the 25th annual.
"(Participants) were already talking about what they want to do differently next year, before the event was even over," Blake said. "That says a lot. When people are already excited about what they want to do next year, it's just going to keep getting better.
"And admittedly, we (as a leadership committee) have already been talking about next year for quite a while, because you can't ignore 25 years. And 25 years in a community this size, to still have this kind of turnout, is tremendous."
