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Student-led relay aims to raise $20,000 for cancer society

Southridge School holding Relay for Life fundraiser April 15.
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Justin Sanghe

When Southridge Secondary student Justin Sanghe set in motion plans to host a Relay for Life at his South Surrey school, he knew raising money for the Canadian Cancer Society was something he and many fellow students would feel passionate about.

Plans for the relay have been in the works for nearly 10 months, after the Grade 11 student first approached the school's headmasters with the idea last June.

In the months that followed, Sanghe and his 15-member committee worked closely with the cancer society, and discovered that the school could funnel its funds directly towards an initiative that he said "connected with us more on a personal level."

The students decided on Camp Goodtimes, a recreation program that offers children and teens affected by cancer the chance to enjoy summer camp in Maple Ridge.

"They do everything that a kid would do, but they get treatment at the same time," Sanghe, 17, told Peace Arch News last week. "They're younger kids who shouldn't be going through this, so we wanted to help make it as easy as possible for them."

Southridge's Relay for Life is set to take place Friday (April 15) from 2 to 10 p.m. at the school's grass field. Like other relays that take place each year around the Lower Mainland, the event includes teams of walkers and runners trading off laps throughout the day, plus entertainment, food, games and other activities.

"Although it is a serious issue, we've tried to make it a little more fun so that people can celebrate their fundraising," Sanghe said.

The relay will begin with a survivors' lap – walked by any students or family members who have been affected by cancer – and at sunset, a luminary ceremony will take place to honour those who have been lost to the disease.

Sanghe said he was inspired to spearhead the event after taking part in the organizing committee for a similar relay in 2014, hosted by Vancouver's St. George's school.

The students have set a fundraising goal of $20,000 – enough to send more than a dozen kids to Camp Goodtimes – and are currently sitting at just over $13,000 raised.

Nicola Romaniuk, giving co-ordinator with the Canadian Cancer Society's Fraser Valley region, told PAN she is thrilled to work with the Southridge students on the upcoming relay.

"It's such a pleasure for us to work with young students like Justin and his committee," Romaniuk said. "It's very much been run and led by the students with Justin at the helm."

Sanghe said the response from not only fellow students, but local businesses who have offered sponsorship has been encouraging, Sanghe said. And although he admits that undertaking such an event has been "challenging," – he cites time management as one of the biggest obstacles the committee has had to overcome – he said it has been an enjoyable experience, and hopes to carry on the tradition next year.

"It's a lot of fun," he said. "It is work, but it isn't stressful work that I don't want to do."