Kelowna, BC – At 2:00 PM on a Sunday, the University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBCO) campus is usually a quiet study place with darkened windows. But on March 22, 2026, the lights of the Courtyard burned with a different kind of energy when the annual Relay for Life event returned to the Okanagan.
With a daunting $50,000 fundraising target hanging in the air, the campus was transformed into a high stakes arena of philanthropy. Students didn’t just walk, they rallied. They raised a collective voice against a disease that touches nearly every household in the valley.
People walked their laps, in celebration and remembrance, a direct testament to the research and support systems that the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) provides. In support of the CCS, the Okanagan Relay for Life event has created a space where everyone, from a five-year old to a veteran survivor, had a story to tell. A space where grief and grit glowed in the gathering gloom.
For the student organisers, this is more than just an extracurricular activity. It is a mission. Participants said, “It feels impactful to be a part of something much bigger than yourself.”
Relay for Life Co-Chair, Maryn, commented on the year-long efforts that went into making their event come to life, “Myself, with my co-chair, and 14 other committee members, we fundraise all year online with the Canadian Cancer Society. So far, we have raised around $50,000, which was our target for this year.”
The Relay’s tonal shifts were perhaps the most riveting part of the day.
The evening began with activities like caricatures, friendship bracelets, and games. The event seemed to be in full swing, with people playing hopscotch, frisbee, and engrossed in conversations as they completed laps around the Courtyard.
The youngest member of this walkathon, Keaton, who was “relaying for his Mommy and Granpie Stephen,” said his favourite part of the event were the balloons.
As the clock ticked closer to the ending, the event transitioned into closing speeches by contributors and the Luminary Ceremony. The frisbees were tucked away and games halted, and a sombre silence settled in the air. The track saw one last lap, illuminated solely by the glow of hundreds of white paper bags.
“Each bag was a hand-drawn monument, to a name, a memory, and a life touched by cancer.”
In the light hum of music in the background, there was a gentle melancholy, mixed with pride. In remembrance of not only survivors, but also those who lost their battle. The soft glow of light emanating from the bags wasn’t static; it was a pulsing resistance against a disease that has taken too much from too many.
It served as a beautiful reminder of the stakes: every single dollar raised by this group contributes to national research and local support programs. Julian, a survivor chair committee member, said, “I was a part of this clinical trial, supported through the Canadian Cancer Society. These funds help with actual costs of living, treatment, and medication. Events like the Relay for Life help fundraise and garner support for affected families.”
The 2026 Relay set the bar very high. At the end of the day, Okanagan Relay for Life had raised a proud total of $54,131. The top individual contributor was Angela Paolicelli at $11,008.80 with ‘Cey's Team!’ raising a total of $17,756.90. A record-breaking year of the UBCO chapter.
The event’s success, however, went way beyond just the currency. It was measured in community cohesion. Colleen, the President Co-Chair of the Okanagan Relay for Life, reflected on the event as a whole. “Our aim is to connect the student body here. Team efforts really do go a long way. Seeing survivors dealing with these battles makes you realise that you are actually a part of something greater,” she said with a voice full of emotion, “Thank you for showing up. Thank you for your costumes, your energy, your kindness.”
As the sun set over the campus, exhaustion was palpable in the air, as was the chill of the wind. Loudest amongst all those emotions, remained the sense of fulfillment and gratitude.
The funds raised will now move to the Canadian Cancer Society to support clinical trials and patient advocacy. If you are impacted by cancer in any form, the Canadian Cancer Society can help.
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