YVETTE Smith is a fighter.
For the last 10 years the North Vancouver resident has laced up for the annual Canadian Cancer Society Relay For Life and this year is no different, seeing her lead the charge yet again out of an interest in supporting research towards a cure.
"I want to be there when they find that cure. I want to be there and say, 'Well, you know what, I helped, I was a part of it.' Even though my story didn't have a wonderful ending, there are so many people out there who are fighting it and surviving, which is great. And it's getting better every year so hopefully they'll find that cure one day and hopefully I'll still be a part of them finding it," she says.
The 2013 edition of the North Shore Relay For Life is being held Saturday, June 8 at North Vancouver's Mahon Park from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. An annual fundraising event for the society, proceeds support cancer research, cancer prevention initiatives and helps people living with the disease. The event is also an opportunity for participants to come together with family and friends and celebrate both survivors as well as those who lost their cancer battle.
The first year Yvette participated in the relay was 2004 in support of her daughter Hannah, who from 2000 to 2004 fought an unsuccessful battle with cancer of the spine and brain. Hannah passed away (following her mother's first relay experience) in October 2004 at age nine.
"We were just going to do it for one year and you get hooked on it," says Yvette.
"The day itself, it's just all about the community. It's a real good day. Even though some parts of it are so sad for what it is, I think it's great, everybody being together and showing solidarity in it, just everybody coming together to say, 'You know what, we believe we can find this cure and we can fight this together,'" she adds.
The upcoming relay has special significance to Yvette and her team as Hannah would have turned 18 this year.
"The actual week of the relay would have been her graduation week. As much as it's emotional, it's also a milestone for us. I'll celebrate
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Yvette has been grateful for the tremendous support received from family and friends over the years, including those who join her at the relay as members of her team, dubbed Hannah's House. She's also been grateful for two of Hannah's friends from Westview elementary, Carolyn Weekes and Dominic Taylor, who now in their grad year, have continued to make the relay an annual priority.
Over the years Yvette has also been able to build relationships with other participants and the event is a reunion of sorts.
"I have a friend (Nancy Blues) who every year has made a different fairy pin for Hannah and every year we give them all out to people so we actually have people who come over to the tent now looking for them because they're collecting them, so it's pretty cool," she says.
Community members are encouraged to register for the upcoming relay. As well, cancer survivors are encouraged to sign up for the Survivors' breakfast and Survivors' Victory Lap. Members of the general public are invited to the festivities at any point, as well as to purchase a Luminary, a special paper bag decorated with messages of love and encouragement placed around the track and lit at dusk.
Info and registration: relaybc.ca/ northvancouver2013.
