Luminaries line the track at Masich Place Stadium during last year’s relay  250News file photo

Prince George, BC – There’s just over one month to go before participants in the 20th Annual Relay For Life hit the track at Masich Place Stadium for 24-hours of bonding, sharing memories, celebrating and fundraising…

For this milestone year, local organizers with the Canadian Cancer Society’s BC & Yukon Branch had set lofty participation goals, when you consider the original Romp N’ Stomp had just six teams involved back in 1992. 

"Our goal this year was to have 130 teams and I’m happy to say we have 124 teams registered already, which is outstanding.  Last year, we had 121 teams," says Society Spokesperson, Helen Owen.  "To date, we have 1131 participants and our goal was to involve 1530 people."

Owen is confident that target will be met, too, by the time registration closes on April 27th.  She says a Prince George team won the early bird prize for the BC/Yukon Division of a $1000 donation towards its fundraising efforts from Scotiabank and she’s hopeful the North will come through again when another $1000 is handed as part of an incentive to have a team of 10 registered by April 15th.  "It’s a nice kick-start to a team’s fundraising," she says.

In addition, the society is piloting a ‘Teams Fundraising Day’ in the northern region.  Owen says it will be tied to the annual All-Teams’ Garage Sale set for April 29th this year at the Spruce City Men’s Fastball diamonds – teams can participate in the sale to raise funds for the relay, but they’re also being encouraged to plan a fundraising activity for that day, as well.

Owen says local teams are coming up with some unique and fantastic fundraising ideas, she’s hearing of team pub nights, dinner parties, girls’ nights-in, and luncheons. 

The cost to register is $20 per person for the 24-hour event on May 12th and 13th.  For more information or to register, you can call 250-564-0885 or click here to sign up online.  Cancer survivors are being invited to take part in a pre-relay reception and open the 20th Annual event by participating in a Victory Lap at 10am on May 12th.  The society would like survivors to register in advance to ensure they have a yellow survivor shirt for their lap by phoning the office or contacting Jill at jillgreenlees@gmail.com