Labrador leads way for cancer hostel fundraiser

Labrador residents shattered provincialrecords for an annual Canadian Cancer Society fundraiser.

Labrador has about five per cent of the province's population, but raised more than 20 per cent in the annual Relay for Life campaign, with a tally of about $107,000.

"I just can't get over it— there's no way to express it," says Thelma Ricketts, a local organizer in western Labrador.

"You know, people might think they only gave $5 or $2, or $10… [but] all the cents add up," said Ricketts, adding she was astonished by the generosity in the community, especially since a two-month strike at the Iron Ore Company of Canada finished in late April.

In Happy Valley-Goose Bay, campaigners raised about $58,000, with donations still coming in.

Funds raised this year will be used to build a place for out-of-town cancer patients to stay when they go to St. John's for treatment. Daffodil Place is scheduled to open in September 2008.

Peter Dawe, executive director of the provincial division of the Canadian Cancer Society, believes Labradorians innately understand the need for such accommodations.

"The people of Labrador have heard about this project and they've said it might be in St. John's, but you know what— it's for us," Dawe said.

Other areas also donated generously. In Grand Falls-Windsor, campaigners collected $65,000, while volunteers in the St. John's area have raised about $60,000 so far.