Vaughan relay event to fight cancer

Thornhill resident Vicky Wylson-Sher has started the first-ever Vaughan Relay for Life, taking place June 14 and 15 on the Woodbridge Fairgrounds at 100 Porter Street.

Along with co-chair Gloria Mantini-Cappello, Wylson-Sher is reaching out to all residents of Vaughan, including Thornhill, Woodbridge, Maple, Concord and Kleinburg, to help make the inaugural event a success. Funds raised at the relay will benefit the Canadian Cancer Society.

Wylson-Sher lost her husband to cancer in February, and it is in his memory that she’s named her relay team, Eye on Jeff. The Relay for Life involves teams of 10 people who participate in an overnight, non-competitive relay. Participants take turns walking around a track. Teams pitch tents in a “Tent City,” where team members can relax when they are not walking. The event takes place overnight because cancer never sleeps.

Participants will be treated to dinner, snacks, breakfast and entertainment provided by live bands. There will be activities for the whole family including arts and crafts, trampoline and a mini horse show for the kids, as well as kickboxing, Zumba, massages, manicures, karaoke, boards games, trivia contests and a middle of the night, open air movie on a giant screen.

Wylson-Sher said the event was inspired by a quote from Anne Frank: “How wonderful that no one need wait a single moment to improve the world.”

Participants can register at: http://convio.cancer.ca/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFL_ON_odd_?team_id=284191&pg=team&fr_id=13002.