The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Flin Flon MLA Clarence Pettersen delivered the following member's statement in the legislature on Sept. 13: Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak about an event that truly illustrates the support that members of the community can lend one another. This past weekend, the Relay for Life brought members of the Flin Flon community and area, including myself, together to celebrate cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost to cancer and to work towards finding a cure. For 12 hours, from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m., 25 relay teams took turns walking laps around the Creighton ball diamond. The night began with a first lap walked by roughly 50 cancer survivors. Later on in the evening, memorial candles were lit in honour of those currently fighting cancer and in memory of those who lost their battles. Several attendees spoke, and as a cancer survivor myself, I had the opportunity to share my own experience. Many others who weren't walking supported the relay as well. Food booths, massages, coffee and entertainment helped keep relay participants going all night. Overall, the Flin Flon Relay for Life raised approximately $150,000 in cash and in-kind donations in support of the Canadian Cancer Society. Mr. Speaker, cancer touches many lives. I'm sure that everyone in this House knows or has known someone affected by cancer. Events like the Relay for Life help the Canadian Cancer Society fund cancer research, offer services and supports for cancer patients and provide information about the disease. Of course, having access to cancer services close to home can help lessen the burden of this terrible disease. The chemotherapy program in Flin Flon sees over 400 patient visits per year, helping local families avoid over 620,000 kilometres of travel to and from Winnipeg. More enhancements are coming to the program over the next several months. I would like to thank all members to join me in thanking the Relay for Life co-chairs, Brenda Russell and Connie Fleuty, the event's business sponsors and dozens of committed volunteers and, of course, the many friends, family and neighbours who came out this weekend to show their support in the fight against cancer.
