Big hearts, amazing results

The Bruce II Sports Centre was awash in a sea of yellow, dotted with blue and white, during this year's Relay for Life held on June 12.

Cancer survivors, some 140 of them, wearing their bright yellow t-shirts entered the stadium floor to a round of applause from the crowd as each individual's name was read out.

It was an awesome sight.

A similar one was taking place at the second annual Relay in Burgeo on the same night.

The annual fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society is a meaningful one to many people, as those not touched by cancer are hard, if not impossible, to find. Everyone has their reason to Relay, and those reasons are as diverse as the hundreds of people touched by the disease on the southwest coast.

In Port aux Basques, the courage and strength on display during the survivors' victory lap was enough to bring tears to the driest of eyes. In Burgeo, stories of survival and support were shared, strengthening those who heard them.

The organizers of both of these events should be congratulated. Their hard work was evident and enjoyed by many during the evening.

The money raised - an amazing $44,690 in Port aux Basques and more than $21,000 in Burgeo - will help, be it through Daffodil Place, research or other services of the cancer society.

More than that, the spirit shared by those who attended these events will also help.

It was clear to anyone at either event that a person dealing with cancer, whomever they are, is not alone.

There are people who care. People, like was said in Burgeo, who have big hearts. And those people are willing to take action to try to help.

Until cancer really does become history, that's all anyone can ask.

- Natalie Musseau