WICC celebrates 20 years of fighting cancer

The countdown is on to this year's Relay For Life!

TORONTO, June 15, 2016 /CNW/ - 2016 marks the 20^th year for the Women In Insurance Cancer Crusade (WICC)'s fight against the disease. Since 1996, thousands of Canadian insurance professionals have raised more than $12.6 million dollars for the Canadian Cancer Society.

To celebrate this milestone, WICC will host its largest ever Relay For Life event in Toronto this Friday. The event will feature a record number of participants and is well on track to reach its goal of raising $421,000. To date, 47 teams have raised a grand total of $130,486. One team, Northbridge Insurance leads the pack, raising nearly $18,000 so far.

The WICC Relay For Life raises money to fund lifesaving research. Driven by an aging and growing population, the number of cancer cases in Canada is expected to increase by 40% within 15 years, so supporting the event has never been more urgent.

With only two days left, organizers are calling for a last minute push to put the event over the top. "With the event just around the corner, now is your chance to register or donate. We ask you to invite your colleagues, friends and family to join us in the fight against cancer," said WICC Relay For Life Co-Chair Shari Dodsworth, Senior Vice President, Sales & Distribution at Northbridge Insurance. "Preventing cancer will benefit everyone – but we have to work together to achieve this goal."

The WICC Relay For Life will be held at Downsview Park on June 17 from 6 p.m. to midnight. WICC and the Canadian Cancer Society are pleased to present a variety of activities for attendees of all ages including: Zumba, themed laps (Hawaii, the eighties), a scavenger hunt, prizes and a prop-filled photo booth to create unforgettable memories. The Luminary Ceremony will occur after sunset, and feature heartfelt and hand-written messages on candle-filled bags that line the track and illuminate the path for event participants.

This year's organizers also have some advice for participants attending the event. "Bring your glow sticks because it's going to be a lot of fun! Relay For Life isn't just an opportunity to fund cancer research. It's a celebration of the lives of those who have won the fight or live on in spirit," said Maria Dal Cin, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) Team Captain and Senior Vice-President, Operations at IBC.

This industry-hosted event has grown and flourished over the years. "I'm extremely proud of the insurance industry's commitment to Relay For Life each and every year," said Paul Martin, Relay For Life Past Co-Chair and President and COO of RRJ Insurance Group. "The growth in participation, sponsorship and fundraising as the years pass is amazing to witness."

Accept the baton and join the fight against cancer.  To register or donate to the WICC Relay For Life, please visit, relayforlife.ca/wicc.

SOURCE Insurance Bureau of Canada

Cynthia Gardner, 416-362-2031 ext 4330, [email protected]