Surrey’s Relay For Life: Rasna Dhillon to run in honour of her grandfather

 

 HEADLINES CANCER STORY

SURREY’S Rasna Dhillon is a 15-year-old student attending Tamanawis Secondary School. Although she has not volunteered with Canadian Cancer Society before, she will be participating in this year’s Relay For Life in honour of her grandfather who passed away from bladder cancer just last summer.

As a loving granddaughter, Rasna spoke of her struggle as she watched her grandfather, who had always been the strongest in their family, fight the disease. After being given hope in December 2012 that he was getting better, Rasna was devastated to be informed that he was re-diagnosed with cancer.

“For me, this was the most painful thing I had ever gone through because the doctors were telling us that he had only a few weeks left,” Rasna said. “I went to the hospital everyday wondering if this would be the last time I would get to see him and talk to him.”

After a few months, they eventually took her grandfather home, and the summer after, the cancer was too much and he passed away while saying his prayers.

Rasna tells me that she is not only doing Relay For Life to continue her grandfather’s legacy and to start a tradition in honor of her family, but to give back to Canadian Cancer Society and the support we have given.

Rasna knows that there is no way her involvement alone is going to find the cure for cancer. She wants to give awareness that it is important to take action and raise funds for cancer research as it would help give other cancer patients a better quality of life.

Relay For Life is a non-competitive event that celebrates cancer survivors, remembers loved ones lost and fights back against all cancers. I believe Diane Bellesen exemplifies the spirit of the event and would be a great individual to speak with.

 

Relay For Life 2014 in Surrey

 

Cloverdale Millennium Amphitheatre Park,

 

Surrey

 

June 7, 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

 

For more information, contact Jenny Souk at 604-533-1227

surreyrelay@bc.cancer.ca