Westisle’s Relay for Life has been a success from the onset and organizers expect great things to happen again in 2010.

As this year’s team of organizers get set for their kick-off rally on February 8, the honourary chair is getting used to the idea of being called to the front of the class.

Jimmy Doucette of Tignish is no stranger to the Westisle’s Relay For Life. He’s been involved in every event as part of a team and  has supplied tents and other items as needed.

A survivor of prostate cancer, who just recently was given a clean bill of health, he’s a great choice for the role of honouary chair.

“He hesitated at first,” says organizer Nancy Hamill. “But I knew Jimmy would do it. I just had to ask.”

The 2010 Relay also has a posthumous chair. Raeanne Dorgan would have been graduating from Westisle High School this year if cancer had not ended her young life. She has been named 2010 honourary chair, posthumously.

Mr Doucette, the owner of Acadian Machine Shop, recalls being shocked when told he had cancer five years ago. At 64-years of age, he was healthy and had no reason to believe he would ever be  stricken with cancer. He was busy working and led an active life. “I was enjoying life,” said Mr Doucette, an avid sled dog racer. “I had no reason whatsoever to think it (cancer) would ever happen to me. I haven’t smoked for 30 years and I was at the gym three days a week.”

His wake up call came when a routine physical picked up abnormalities in his blood. The diagnosis was prostate cancer.

After undergoing surgery he was told to do “absolutely nothing” for six weeks. 

“That was impossible for me,” he said. Against doctors orders he began driving and feeding his dogs after just four weeks of laying low. “For me, it was impossible to do nothing. I was going crazy. I had no hobbies. I didn’t know what to do.”

He now realizes that was a mistake and it delayed his full recovery. “I know that now. But I couldn’t stay still.”

The hardest part of all, he said was the wait to find out if he was cancer free.

Mr Doucette said some men are embarrassed to talk about prostate cancer but he says it’s a subject that needs to be discussed. “You need to be aware you could be next, no matter how healthy you think you are.” 

Last week Mr Doucette met with student organizers and their teacher advisors to plan for the upcoming kick-off and everyone is excited to get the fund raising underway.

As long as there’s not too many speeches, Mr Doucette said he’s happy to lead the challenge.

Everyone is invited to take part in the kick off-rally that gets underway on Monday, Feb 8 at 7 pm at Westisle.

“We want to invite all former teams and new teams out to our kickoff,” said Ms Hamill. “Come out and see what it’s all about.”

Organizers are confident that once again Westisle can be on top with their Relay For Life.

“This is not just a school relay,” said Ms Hamill. “It’s a community relay.”

 Last year the Westisle Relay For Life raised $143,367, the highest of any school in Canada.