The event has been organized by students and held at Saugeen District Secondary School since 2016. This photo is from the 2017 event.

Hub Staff

High school students at Saugeen District Secondary School (SDSS) are again gearing up for another Relay For Life event, set to take place on Friday, May 10.

A March 22 assembly began with a demonstration using the students' cell phone lights to represent the number of lives touched by cancer, whether directly or through relatives and friends. Although the mood remained somber as they viewed videos of those who have been through the harrows of chemotherapy, organizers also focussed on the positive impacts the Canadian Cancer Society has had on patients as well as encouraging improvements in cancer treatments.

Rob Fawcett, the girls' volleyball coach at SDSS, shared his own story as a cancer survivor. Fawcett was diagnosed in May of 2018 with stage 3 colon cancer. His message was optimistic and enlightening. Fawcett spoke very highly of The StoneTree Naturopathic Clinic in Collingwood, whose team has been helping him manage his chemotherapy. With the help of vitamin infusions, Fawcett didn’t have to give up the activities in his life that bring him so much joy, including coaching volleyball. He stressed that the research is getting better and these advancements are made possible by the funding provided by the Canadian Cancer Society.

The SDSS Relay for Life event will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. at the school track, 780 Gustavas St. E. Anyone interested in participating can sign up online at the SDSS page on relayforlife.ca.

The event is open to everyone in the community and will include the survivor lap, survivor speeches, hair donations and a candle lighting ceremony.