Relay for Life - Barrie Ontario

On June 3, 2011, together with my family and friends,we walked all night to support Cancer Research at the 12th Annual Barrie Relay for Life.

For three (3) years now my team (Because You're Mine) " I Walk the Line" have participated in the Barrie Relay for Life event. My sister Alison and I started the team in support of our dad Phil who is a prostate cancer survivor. We wanted to show our dad how much he meant to us and that we will never stop fighting the fight.

This year we had 12 members on our team, and we paid special honour to my best friend Randall "Rolls" Pugh. Rolls was diagnosed with sarcoma just over 1 year ago and recently was diagnosed with lung cancer. He is fighting the fight of his life, and together with his wife Brenda, daughter Sarah, his mom and dad Barb and Bill, cousin Scott and many more we dedicated the night to him. Because that night, like every night we fight for him and stand behind him in love and support. (I love you Rolls).

Our team came in 6th place from a fund raising perspective in over 85 teams that participated in the Barrie Relay for Life - and I am proud to say that I personally placed 7th in individual funds raised amongst over 1800 people enrolled in this year's event. A total of approx $230,000 was raised by all participants in Barrie!! Wow! What an accomplishment!!

To help raise incremental funds the day of the event, we raffled off a F CANCER bracelet - earning an additional $375 in donations. We were the talk of the event - EVERYONE wanted to win the bracelet!! The picture shown here is of my dad and I standing on the track encouraging people to purchase a raffle ticket. What an overwhelming response. Everyone was asking how they too can get their bracelet!

A big thank you to Susan and Lisa for all their love and support. Thank you for making this year's Relay for Life memorable and so amazing.

Love and appreciation,
Mark Saunders