Team ready for this weekend's Relay for Life event

Some of the Bolton area participants in the Relay for Life include the Girlfriends are Forever team - Melanie Jordan, Nadia Casagrande, Shelley Durrant, Tina Woodley, Andrea Gorman, Adele Tichy. Missing from photo are Kim Oliver, Davina Koerner, and Lynda Dawkins.

A celebration of survival and a tribute to the lives of loved ones who have been touched by cancer takes place this weekend at the Brampton Fairgrounds.

The annual Relay for Life involves 12 hours of fun, friendship and fund-raising to beat cancer. Communities from coast to coast, will be taking up the fight. The event takes place June 22 to June 23, The 12-hour relay involves teams of 10 people walking throughout the night - cancer never sleeps.

Some of the Bolton area participants include the Girlfriends are Forever team - Melanie Jordan, Nadia Casagrande, Shelley Durrant, Tina Woodley, Andrea Gorman, Adele Tichy, Kim Oliver, Davina Koerner and Lynda Dawkins.

"Everyone's life has been touched by cancer in some way or another and this is our way of supporting cancer research. Some of us have been friends for over 15 years and this is not our first year doing relay. This year the team has two survivors - Lynda Dawkins and Tina Woodley."

Team captain Woodley said; "This is a special year for me because in January I reached the five-year mark as a lung cancer survivor, and it is great to have such good friends to support me and others in an event like this."

Nadia Casagrande added; " ... as a group, we participate in this relay to honour Tina and remember all those who have lost the battle against this disease."

Kim Oliver noted; "Relay for Life is a great way for us to raise funds for a disease that impacts the lives of so many. I take part in this relay with my friends to celebrate with my very close friend Tina who has been cancer free for five years and to honour the memory of my grandfather Gord Wood who lost his battle in September of 2001. This is a great cause and a night that I look forward to spending with my friends, 'Girlfriends are Forever.'"

You can support them on the relay Web site under are individual's names or are Team name, Girlfriends are Forever - (http://www.cancer.ca/relayf orlife/0,3707,153976105,00. html).