KGH teams getting ready to raise money for cancer care

This June, enthusiastic Kingston General Hospital staff members will be up all night walking the track at the Royal Military College. It’s all part of the annual Relay for Life fundraiser, a collaboration between the Canadian Cancer Society, KGH and the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation (UHKF) to support cancer care and research.

“All of the money raised by KGH teams will be donated directly back to the hospital,” says Lori Faggiani, Manager of Annual Programs at UHKF. “Last year, KGH had 14 teams and raised just about $30,000. With that money we were able to purchase 12 sleeper chairs and four nutrition carts for Kidd 9.”

This year our goal is to have 20 teams participate. To help kick things off, a special Relay for Life event is taking place on April 2 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Burr 1 Conference room. KGH staff can drop by to find out more about the event and register their teams. At the event, our hospital will also announce a fundraising target for this year and detail what the money will be used to purchase.So far, seven teams from KGH have already stepped up to take part.

“I have been involved with the Relay for Life since high school and when I realized that my department didn’t have a team, I decided to put my name in as team captain,” says Megan Riordon, Clinical Pharmacist. “It is important to support this event since everyone will know someone, at some point in their lives, who will be affected by cancer.”

The Relay for Life will be held on June 6 at RMC and runs from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Teams of 10 or more people take turns walking or running around the track. Cancer survivors begin the evening with a Survivor’s Lap and special luminaries are lit to honour and remember those who have passed away.

“The candle light ceremony and survivors’ walk is inspiring to watch,” says Riordon. “The event itself is always a lot of fun too. Last year, there was a volleyball tournament that went on all night; it was a great way to help stay awake. There is usually music or entertainment as well, so there is a little something for everyone.”

For those who are interested in getting involved and creating a team, registration can be done online at www.relayforlife.ca. Click on the ‘Register for Relay’ button in the top right corner of the screen.