No Clownin' Around about cancer

Clownin' Around. An expression often used when someone is acting in a jovial and joyous fashion. An expression used by Bernice White's mom when she and her brothers and sisters would joke and carry on. Their mom would say "stop clowning around."

The Relay for Life team that bears the moniker of Clownin' Around does so in memory of Bernice's mom, who died because of cancer.

"We use the name in memory of our mom and decided to keep the team name throughout the six years we have participated," says Ms. White.

Clownin' Around is comprised of Ms. White's family and some close friends. The team has been involved in the relay for the last seven years and look forward to the annual fundraising event.

"We relay for our mother and friends that have passed on," she says. "Most of us on the team are from the same family and our sister, Sheila Wagg, is a survivor and a team member so we relay for her."

Ms. White says her favourite part of the event is the luminary ceremony, when small candles lit in flame resistant bags light up the summer night sky. It's at this moment she says you realize what the relay is about.

"You get to see who died and who's still living here and you can pay tribute to them and respect."

She says team members also enjoy meeting new friends, playing games, enjoying the company of other teams and watching the video that is played at the end of the night.

In terms of fundraising, she says they've always kept it simple by collecting from among their own group of friends and family.

Ms. White says the Clownin' Around family team is ready to bring both laughter and joy to this year's annual Relay for Life. Clowning around their mother would approve of.

reporter@thegeorgian.ca