Relay co-ordinator Aimee Cassie (r) gives co-chair Melanie Blake the fundraising total Sunday morning. Photos 250News

Prince George, B.C. – The 24^th annual Prince George Relay For Life has raised $505,000 for the fight against cancer and fundraising isn’t over yet, it continues until August.

The 2016 Prince George Relay featured 117 teams, 1208 participants and twenty-six 24-hour walkers, folks who walked the Masich Place Stadium track from the start at 10 o’clock Saturday morning right through to the end at 10 a.m. Sunday.

And, as Co-ordinator Aimee Cassie said at the closing ceremony, “all of this would not be possible without the absolute army of volunteers that we have, we are so lucky to have them.  They have been planning this event for months, they have been here since Thursday setting up, they will be here until Monday cleaning up.  This event would not be possible without their passion and total dedication.”

“I also want to give a huge thank you to the incredible participants of the Prince George Relay For Life.  We are so proud of you, you have done so well.  We are Relay City, and you have done us proud.”  She also thanked all of the sponsors who throw their support behind the relay.

Cassie concluded “I guess my last thought is to thank you.  I think we inspired a lot of people here today and yesterday.  Thank you, and I hope to see everyone back here next year for the 25^th annual Prince George Relay For Life.”

Event co-chair Melanie Blake acknowledged the job Cassie did in her first year as co-ordinator as well as the effort of the volunteers.  With the sky turning increasingly grey, winds picking up and rain clouds moving in from the east, Blake said “I just really want to acknowledge the set-up crew and the crew that’s going to start to clean up and return things, because we’re all going to go home and get warm and they’re going to continue to work.  So it’s really important that we acknowledge their work because they’re not done.”

She says “most importantly the thing that I’ve heard over the last 24 hours, besides great stories, besides inspiration, besides support, is people talking about next year before this year is even done.  That means so much to all of us.”

She says bands who volunteered their time, sponsors who gave their support, the production crew, volunteers and many of the teams that took part are already asking how they can improve things even further for the 25^th anniversary Relay next year.  “It really shows that this is a community and our Relay community is probably the best community in Canada, so you should all be proud to be a part of it.”

Speeches done, Cassie took guesses from Blake and the crowd on the Relay’s fundraiser total, starting at the $407,000 announced at Saturday’s opening ceremony.  When all of the guesses were done Cassie said “$505,000 is where we’re at, and we fundraise right through the end of August.  Well done Prince George.”

One final duty for Cassie was announcing the winner of the draw for a new car, courtesy of Northland.  Every time someone fundraised $500 they got a ticket in the raffle.  Peter Sia and Kyle Bachman with the Northland Auto Group handled the ticket draw and announced the winning ticket belonged to Mark and Heather Blondin from Team Loobies.

(l-r) Northland’s Peter Sia, Aimee Cassie, Mark and Heather Blondin, Kyle Bachman of Northland and mascot.

Mark and Heather used to live in Prince George and now reside in Kamloops.  They return to PG every year to take part in the Relay for Life and received a huge cheer from the crowd when their names were announced.

Heather was totally surprised they had won and couldn’t stop giggling.  “What are we supposed to do,” she said, “on my goodness I can’t believe it.”   Now, the winning ticket holder had their choice of one of three vehicles and Heather hollered out across the stadium infield for her son Colin, who this year is a cancer survivor who has been undergoing treatment.

“Colin, Colin what colour?”  Colin indicated the red one and with that mom shouted out “okay we’ll go with the red.  Whoooo!”  The red one is a brand new Hyundai Accent, and the Blondins now have the keys.  “I’ve gotta go to Kamloops” says Heather.

Team Loobies, with Colin Blondin (back row, yellow T-shirt) celebrate with smiles

Next year marks the 25^th anniversary of the Prince George Relay, the only 24-hour Relay For Life in Canada.