SMC students set high goal for second Relay for Life fundraiser

St. Mary’s College students have raised the bar for the school’s second annual relay for life cancer research fundraiser.

SMC student council, with the support of teachers, organized and held the high school’s first relay for life at the school’s track with a goal of raising $20,000 on June 9, 2023.

Thanks to donations from students, the broader community and local businesses, they quickly surpassed their goal and raised $35,000 to present to the Canadian Cancer Society.

Based on last year’s success, SMC students want to raise $45,000 for the school’s second relay for life to be held at the SMC track from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday May 24.

There will be themed laps and obstacle courses at the track and field and a cancer survivors' lounge set up within the school.

SMC Gr. 12 students Tori Carbone and Abby Wing — accompanied by Stephanie Parniak, SMC chaplain and a cancer survivor who took part in last year’s relay — gave Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board officials a preview of this year’s relay at Wednesday’s board meeting.

Carbone and Wing told reporters that they hope to have cancer survivors from the elementary and secondary school levels involved in this year’s relay.

Fundraising has already begun.

Students from each of the Huron-Superior board's elementary schools have raised funds in advance of this year’s relay, a cheque for $1,500 presented to the relay’s organizers at a SMC school formal held Feb. 2.

“It’s an important cause. I’ve been personally affected by people who have had cancer. It’s really close to my heart to be able to make a donation toward cancer research,” Carbone told SooToday at that event.

Parniak said she hopes to follow up on her participation in last year’s relay by taking part in this year’s event.