On April 20, many residents of the Municipality of Les Cèdres and surrounding area gathered at the Pavillon des bénévoles, 145 rue Valade, to take part in a benefit dinner for Relay for Life. The initiative, organized by five dynamic young people, was a resounding success. 

“The event went very well, with some 95 people taking part - a number well beyond our expectations. Participants enjoyed a cold buffet and, for some lucky ones, were able to get their hands on one of the prizes drawn during the evening thanks to the generosity of several sponsors. A half-and-half was also organized,” sums up one of the organizers of the benefit event, Sara-Maude Major. 

To plan the benefit dinner down to the last detail, the young woman was able to count on the support of Florence Charbonneau, Arnaud Thauvette, Julie Charlebois and Vincent Lachance. 

Thanks to the generosity of participants and event partners, the benefit dinner raised over $2,500 for the Canadian Cancer Society. In comparison, the first edition of the event last year raised $1,200. 

“Personally, it's a cause very close to my heart, as my mother has been fighting breast cancer since 2017.Both my grandfathers have also died of cancer, so let's just say I'm particularly sensitive to Relay for Life and the Canadian Cancer Society's mission,” she adds.

Sara-Maude and her good friend Vincent Lachance have been taking part in Relay for Life since that very year, walking and raising funds. “No matter what fund-raising activity we do, we get great support from the public.Over the past 7 years, we've donated some $11,000 to the cause, an amount raised through several fundraising activities. Every year, our events take on a different dimension,” explains Vincent.

In fact, on June 1 and 2, Sara-Maude and Vincent will be holding a wrapping activity at Vaudreuil-Dorion's Super C to raise even more money for Relay for Life.“In addition to having a charitable component, our activities also enable us to promote prevention and awareness among the general public. It gives the cause great visibility too,” conclude the two friends in chorus.