Published in The BANAR November 2014
By Bill Horne
On a cool but delightful Sunday, October 19, almost 200 eager Cancer Chasers walked and ran the 5k route though our parks and allotment garden paths. New this year was the inflatable Running Room Start/Finish apparatus. Road crossing safety issues were well covered by the Ottawa Police Services, with support from the BCA and Councillor Bloess.
We are still tallying the financials, but we expect to have raised over $9000 for cancer research at the Ottawa Hospital. Area businesses and other sponsors were most generous with items and services for the event, as well as the raffle draw and silent auction. You can find the list on the website www.blackburnhamlet.ca, under Past Events. Please support them. You will also find a few photos of the event, including the traditional roof-top photo.
I’d like to give a huge shout-out to the small but very dedicated team of Cancer Chase organizers: Co-Chair Jeff MacDonald, Eileen Lindsay, Kathy McFarland, Trudy and Winston MacDonald, Bonnie Bowkett, Conrad Laplante, Paul Vanbruinessen, David Schellenberg, Doris Budd, Laura Thomson and Dannie Horne. We also had a number of enthusiastic volunteers, mostly on the day of the event, and their contributions were most appreciated. While the long-serving Sewell family, and the event co-founders, could not be present, their advice and support was there with us.
What about the 2015 Cancer Chase? Some members of the team will not be able to participate in future, and the event is in serious jeopardy of not continuing its vital work in 2015. If chasing cancer out of our lives is important to you, and you have organizational skills, contact the 2014 Cancer Chase Co-Chair. Right now would be a good time.