Regina - Mother Nature smiled down on the Canadian Cancer Society's 3rd annual Relay For Life this year, providing a beautiful evening for participants camped out in Regina's Wascana Park this past Friday.

Thousands of volunteers, participants, and well-wishers partook in the Canada-wide event, with more than 1400 team members walking and jogging throughout the night to support the fight against cancer. The event raised approximately $300,000 to help make cancer history.

To kick off the evening, the 420 cancer survivors present took to the track to walk the Survivor's Victory Lap, which acknowledges and celebrates the courage and success of cancer survivors. Later in the evening, 3652 luminaries were lit to pay tribute to the cancer survivors and to remember friends and family lost to the disease.

Dozens of local companies contributed time, effort and money to the cause, and CUETS was among the most notable corporate sponsors, contributing $100 for each of the 140 plus teams registered in the relay. In recognition of the unprecedented support, Tent City was dubbed "CUETSville" by the Canadian Cancer Society Relay For Life Committee.

CUETS also demonstrated overwhelming solidarity again this year with 70 participants entered in the relay. The teams raised more than $10,000 for the event, with generous donations coming from friends, family and colleagues. Fundraising efforts organized by the Relay For Life committee such as 50/50 ticket sales, a steak night, an indoor mini-golf tournament, a Home and Gift sale, and a major raffle raised over $4000.

When it came time to announce CUETS' total contribution, excitement reigned for CUETS staff huddled together by the stage in their matching bunny hugs and blue glow stick necklaces in the wee hours of the morning. Clapping and cheering resounded when the team captains held up the numbers "telemiracle style," revealing two zeros, a five, a nine and finally a two, for a total of $29,500.

Vice President of Human Resources Bob Lane was on hand to present the Canadian Cancer Society with a large cheque. "We are proud to help in the fight against cancer." It was a sentiment shared by all participants at the event.

Winnipeg - Unfortunately, Mother Nature was not as kind to participants camping out at Red River Exhibition Park in Winnipeg. It rained heavily throughout the night, but "even the torrential downpour and killer mosquitoes could not dampen Team CUETS spirit," says Bernie Campeau, Relay For Life Committee Chair in Winnipeg.

The 40 CUETS team members in attendance turned heads at the event, sporting grass hula skirts and clam shell tops in a Hawaiian theme. To date, approximately $3445 was raised with donations still trickling in. Fundraising efforts included a pancake breakfast, a book sale, a bake sale, a silent auction, Show and Save coupon books, Jeans Day money, and generous donations coming from team members' families, friends, and colleagues.

This year CUETS signed on as Event Sponsor, a unique sponsorship that CUETS and the Winnipeg branch of the Canadian Cancer Society developed together. CUETS hosted a call-in donation line, with CUETS staff volunteering their time and effort to answer incoming calls. In addition, CUETS donated $25 for every Relay team in Winnipeg and $100 for every CUETS Relay team in Winnipeg. At the Closing Ceremonies, Bernie Campeau had the pleasure of announcing CUETS' additional $2500 donation to the 100 teams in attendance.

Throughout the evening, the person in everyone's thoughts was CUETS' own Jo-Anne DiLallo, who is off fighting her own battle with cancer. Named Honourary Chair by CUETS' Relay For Life Committee, Jo-Anne's friends and colleagues gathered to read her luminary which read "Jo-Anne DiLallo, our survivor, our fighter, our friend. Love, the CUETS gang."

A special song written and performed at the event by Ed Stozek called "Light a Candle Tonight" plays tribute to Jo-Anne and all those touched by cancer.

"It's for the times in life that were easy.
It's for the times that were hard to bear.
It's for the times we take to remember.
And it's a time for us to share.

Light a candle tonight,
And let it's flame burn bright.
And with each flame there is hope . . . there is light."