An Cosantóir

DONEGAL'S RELAY FOR LIFE B 26 | RDF BY LT JOHN MC CANDLESS, 58 RES INF BN purple t-shirts. They were followed by carers in yellow t-shirts: these are individuals who give their time, love, and support to friends, family and neighbours facing cancer. Then it was the turn of the 71 teams to walk round the track. An Cosantóir September 2012 www.dfmagazine.ie inspirational time when survivors are invited to circle the track together so that everyone can celebrate their victories over cancer. It also demonstrates how the Relay's participants are helping to ensure that more lives are saved each year, repre- sented by the individuals on the track. In Letterkenny 400 survivors took to the track decked out in common traditions that reinforce the concept of 'Celebrate, Remember, and Fight Back.' The opening ceremony starts with the Survivors' Lap, an Letterkenny IT at 1400hrs. As we counted down to the start of the Relay at 1800hrs, Donegal's own Daniel O'Donnell sang the Relay for Life song, I'll See The Journey Through, which he wrote for the Irish Cancer Society. Although every Relay for Life is different, there are certain largest ever Relay for Life in the country and Donegal's first. Each team had to raise a minimum of €1,500 and our commit- tee began fundraising in March, through coffee mornings, table quizzes, golf classics and packing shopping at a local supermar- ket. By the day of the event, Saturday 26th May, we had raised €3,348, with some money still to be counted. In Mediterranean-type weather thousands gathered at he got the idea for a 24-hour team relay. Consequently, the following year's run saw 19 teams taking part in the first team relay event, raising $33,000. The event has since be- come a global phenomenon that gives communities across the world a chance to celebrate the survivors of cancer, re- member loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. At Relay for Life events teams camp out, taking turns walking or running. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event, in recognition of the fact that cancer never sleeps. A Company's team was one of 71 teams participating; the when Dr Gordy Klatt, a surgeon in Tacoma, Washington, de- cided to raise money for his local branch of the American Can- cer Society. In the City of Destiny Classic 24-Hour Run Against Cancer, Dr Klatt spent a gruelling 24 hours circling the track at Baker Stadium at the University of Puget Sound. Friends and supporters each paid $25 to run or walk 30 minutes with him and he raised $27,000. While thinking about ways that others could participate, Cpl Ann Marie McColgan, A Coy, 58 Reserve Infantry Battalion, was there to take part in it. Now a global event Relay for Life's origins go back to 1985 illed as one of the biggest charity events ever held in Donegal the 'Relay for Life' lived up to all expectations and, thanks to a suggestion by Cpl Marie Downey and A Coy 58 Bn and Daniel O Donnell Many were in fancy dress and a fun-filled 24 hours was promised. With the event underway, those not actu- ally walking were free to take place in the Luminaria ceremony, which remembers people who have been touched by cancer and loved ones lost to the disease. Candles are lit, each bearing the name of a person touched by cancer. Cpl Marie Downey, our team cap- tain, assisted in the Luminaria ceremony, in which over 5,000 candles were lit. At one stage when Lt Shaun McLaughlin, Cpl Charlene Luminaria Ceremony 5000 Candles in memory Monagle and I were on a break we joined some local athletes who were running around the town for the 24 hours. The local Errigal Cycling Club were also cycling around the town for the 24hours: it truly was a community event. The last element of the event is the Fight Back ceremony, where everyone makes a personal commitment to take up the fight against cancer, a disease that takes too many. That commitment may be by doing something as simple as wearing sun screen, getting screening tests, watching our diet, quitting smoking, etc. The event was a huge success and by 1800hrs Sunday over €282,000 was raised for the Irish Cancer Society. When CD sales are counted that figure should exceed €300,000. By the end we were very tired but it was an unbelievable experience and one which we in 58 Inf Bn are very proud of. It was emotional, fun, and entertaining and everyone is looking forward to doing it again next year.

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