The Canadian Cancer Society held a kickoff luncheon for the 2008 Relay for Life event at the Knox Hall on Monday.

Survivor chair Marie Meckling gave the opening remarks and talked about the importance of the Relay. She used the analogy of a wind chime to how cancer effects everyone. As the wind blows, it effects every one of the chimes and cancer works the same way.

"It effects everyone around you. It effects your family, friends, co-workers and medical staff," said Meckling.

Giving remarks on behalf of the survivors was three-time cancer survivor Kevin Donald. He said that growing up he thought that cancer was something that only happened to older people, but in 1990 he was diagnosed with Hodgkins Disease.

After winning his first fight, Donald lost his father to a brain tumour in 1993 and shortly afterwards he was told that his Hodgkins Disease had returned. He underwent a year and a half of chemotherapy.

He had made it to the two-year point of being cancer-free when in 1998 he developed the same symptoms as before with problems eating and night sweats. He went back to his doctor and was diagnosed with Hodgkins Disease for the third time.

He was told by doctors that the third bout was going to be the toughest, but he learned of a stem cell transplant program that started up in Saskatchewan. During the fall of 1998 and the spring of 1999 Donald underwent stem cell transplants to save his life.

"I am proud to say that I've made it to five years and I'm still here today," said Donald.

Cancer Knowledge Zone chair Schenley Irwin gave a short talk on "How we can help", where she talked about all of the people who make a difference for the Relay for Life, including sponsors, volunteers before, during and after the event and the teams that fundraise the money to participate.

"The one requirement we have for our fundraisers is that they have fun," said Irwin.

Saskatchewan Division Revenue Development Director Nora Bakken gave a very emotional speech for her message from the division. She had originally written down her speech, but scrapped it as the survivor speech was given by her cousin.

She said that Relay for Life was a great opportunity for everyone to not only recognize the survivors, but also to thank the friends, families and caregivers that cancer affects.

"Relay for Life, if you haven't been there before, it is something to feel and experience," Bakken said.

Relay for Life will take place at River Park starting at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 30, and will run until about 7 a.m. on Saturday, May 31.