By Daryl Major

Nanaimo’s Relay for Life set for one final lap

Feb 5, 2017 | 5:03 AM

NANAIMO — 2017 will be the final year for the Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life fundraiser in Nanaimo.

Over the past four years, the Relay in Nanaimo has raised over $120,000 for cancer research. However, dwindling participation is being cited as one reason why it’s ending, according to spokesperson Tracy Berg.

“There’s been sort of a downward interest in Relay,” Berg said. “I mean like everything else, things have its time. This particular event is just not being well attended. So we just want to progress and move into something else that people will enjoy coming to.

But we certainly want to have one last hurrah for the teams.”

Hoping to make it easier for people to attend, Berg said the traditional Friday date for Relay has been changed and the event has been cut from 12 hours down to six.

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Berg said it’s unfortunate that the event is ending, but they will be going out with a “big bang.”

Volunteers on the planning committee have come up with a movie theme for this year and Berg said the casting call is out for past teams and supporters to register at www.relayforlife.ca/nanaimo.

“We just want them to come out. We want them to bring their friends and family. We want them to enjoy themselves. We want the survivors to come out for the free dinner and we just want to make it as special as possible for the last year.”

The final Relay goes Saturday, June 3 between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m.

daryl.major@jpbg.ca