Gabby Fry (L) and Selina Ma (R) have been key organizers for Dover Bay Secondary School's Relay For Life fundraiser (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

students stepping up

‘It’s absolutely incredible:’ Dover Bay students lead impactful cancer-fighting campaign

Jun 13, 2025 | 12:43 PM

NANAIMO — What started out as a relatively small Nanaimo-based Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) fundraiser has swelled into so much more.

North Nanaimo’s Dover Bay Secondary School is a hub of activity all day on Friday, June 13 with hundreds of Relay For Life participants and supporters at the school’s sports field off Hammond Bay Rd.

By mid-day Friday, over $60,000 had been raised, which is trending toward eclipsing last year’s effort.

Led by Dover Bay’s Student Council members, including grade 11 student Selina Ma, a Relay For Life launch event asked the school population if they know anybody who battled cancer.

It’s a festival-like atmosphere at Dover Bay Secondary’s well-established Relay For Life fundraiser on Friday, June 13. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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“Everybody raised their hands. It’s an event that affects so many people,” Ma said.

Numerous school-based events raised funds toward the cause throughout the school year, Ma noted.

Nearly 400 students are participating in the extended relay which started at 10:30 a.m. and runs until Friday at 9 p.m.

Fellow Dover Bay Student Council member Gabby Fry has a personal connection to cancer.

“My brother, who is one of the speakers today, had brain cancer. It affected me and our community. It’s important to stand together for people who have to go through that or continue to,” Fry told NanaimoNewsNOW.

The twelfth grade student said their Relay For Life momentum has been well received by Dover Bay students, staff and the community.

Several corporate partners also came on board to back Dover Bay’s fundraising drive.

Dover Bay teachers Caitlin Ryan and Alita Dancy are assisting the student-led Relay For Life initiative.

Beaming with a wide smile, Ryan expanded on the event’s growth which started on a reduced scale during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 where $,5000 was generated.

In 2021, an impressive $13,000 was raised as the event took a significant step forward.

“Last year it was $75,000 and the kids do it all, it’s all their planning, their process, we’re here to support them. It’s absolutely incredible what they can pull together,” Ryan said at the event.

Various school-based functions not only raised money, but built momentum toward relay day, Ryan noted.

Dancy said Dover Bay’s Relay For Life advocacy addresses negative stereotypes attached to young people.

“If you look around this space today you really see the integrity, the commitment and the desire for these kids to want to do good for their greater community,” Dancy said.

Donations to Dover Bay Secondary School’s Relay For Life fundraising drive can conveniently be made online here.

Canadian Cancer Society Relay For Life events raise money for research and to better support those living with the disease.

Since its inception in 1999, more than $600 million has been raised through Relay For Life, according to the Canadian Cancer Society.

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