Kelowna high school students are raising funds for cancer research

Okanagan Mission Secondary School (OKM) is hosting a Relay for Life event on June 1.

With a goal of raising $30,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society, the fundraiser will feature music from the OKM band, food trucks and inspiring stories told by cancer survivors.

“In these last three years, OKM has revived Relay and it has been a huge success,” explained Liam Sisson, OKM’s Relay for Life event chair.

“It is a completely student-led and run event where OKM Leadership students showcase their skills and passion for a meaningful cause that touches so many lives.”

In 2021, OKM hosted a partially in-person Relay for Life event.

“It was a very eye-opening experience to plan an event within the restrictions of COVID,” Sisson said.

“Some challenges we faced were maintaining participant engagement through videos as well as reaching out to the community for donations while businesses were facing financial hardships.”

Despite the challenges, over $20,000 was raised.

In 2022, OKM held an in-person event, where survivors from the community shared their stories and local food trucks donated a portion of their proceeds towards the cause.

“We received incredible support from community members in giving generous donations to be used as prizes and fundraising,” Sisson added.

“In that year alone, we raised over $35,000, one of the largest fundraising amounts for a high school across Canada.”

Relay for Life is a global movement to end cancer. Across Canada, it unites students and raises funds for the Canadian Cancer Society for research and patient financial relief.

With the upcoming event, OKM students are hoping to reach a milestone of donating $100,000 to the non-profit organization, and they are only $12,000 short of it.

The Relay for Life will run from 4 to 10 pm, but to adhere to district policy, it is only open to members of the OKM school community.

Those wanting to make a donation can do so here.