Anti-cancer ambassadors lobby
Relay for Life is working to get more youth involved in the fight against cancer
Sydney Edwards, Emma McDiarmid and Emily Peck set up a Relay for Life display in the lobby of the Langley School District office prior to the board meeting and addressed the trustees Tuesday evening.
Photograph by: Heather Colpitts , Langley Advance
Cancer has a growing list of enemies among Langley public school students who have joined the Relay for Life.
The annual 12-hour relay at McLeod Athletic Park has seen an increase in the numbers of students and schools participating.
"I've continued to go back to relay because I want to stop the suffering," said Brookswood Secondary student Emily Peck.
Three Relay for Life youth ambassadors made a pitch to the Langley School trustees to take part in next annual relay likely in June.
Peck and fellow high schooler Sydney Edwards were joined by elementary school student Emma McDiarmid at the Nov. 27 board meeting where they advocated for more cancer education within schools.
They all became involved after people in their lives were diagnosed with the disease.
"Everyone will be involved with cancer, whether it's yourself, a loved one or a friend," Peck said.
There is some education about the disease but the students said many courses could include cancer education, such as health classes teaching about skin cancer and sun awareness, cooking classes on superfoods that fight cancer, leadership classes and school clubs on helping charities and organizing events.
McDiarmid said schools can even hold their own mini-relays if they can't have a team at the overnight Relay for Life.
The school board passed a motion to support relay and to encourage schools to take part.
