A 40 per cent decline in the number of people running the Relay for Life in Smithers has prompted the local Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) to downsize with a new event called the Daffodil Dash in 2015.
Relay for Life has been held in the Bulkley Valley since 2002 however participation has dropped in the past three years.
As a result, the Smithers unit has created a new, smaller event called the Daffodil Dash to encourage greater community involvement.
CCS unit president Debbie Courtliff said the Daffodil Dash would require less volunteer output than the relay, which was a 12 hour event.
“[The relay] was not a set distance but someone on your team would be on the track for the 12 hours,” said Courtliff.
“The new event is a distance event, with choices of 2 km, 5 km and 10 km.
“It is inclusive so people can walk, run and bike their choice of distance.”
Organizers also hope to incorporate a survivor’s luncheon and possibly a silent auction or bar beque.
Scheduled for April to coincide with Daffodil Month, the dash will replace the relay as the main fundraising event for the CCS in Smithers.
Money raised from the events goes towards research, prevention education and support for one of five cancer society lodges that house and feed cancer patients while they are receiving treatment in major centres.
A CCS committee meeting will be held at the Healthy Living Centre this month.
For more information about how to get involved, or to provide planning input, contact the society office by calling 250-847-0230 or emailing smithers@bc.cancer.ca.