Villanova kicks off Relay for Life fundraising, goal is $50,000

By Ron Giofu

An area high school is restarting a fundraiser that has traditionally done well for the Canadian Cancer Society.

St. Thomas of Villanova Secondary School is bringing back its Relay for Life fundraiser, the first time it will be held since 2019. The actual fundraiser is at the County Road 8 school June 2 though fundraising started last week with a kick-off assembly and a bake sale.

Olivia Borrowman, participant chair with the organizing committee from Villanova, said the last time the Catholic high school held a Relay for Life was when she was still in elementary school. Mackenzie Deslisle is the event chair, she noted.

“This is my first relay for life in four years,” she said. “I feel we’re gaining a lot of progress already because it’s been four years for us since we last did one.”

The assembly also served as “a launch party,” said Borrowman. That was held last Tuesday with a bake sale last Wednesday with students streaming from every direction to come to the latter.

“All of the money goes to the

Canadian Cancer Society,” said Borrowman.

St. Thomas of Villanova is in the process of welcoming and forming teams while still fundraising towards their goal. Another event they held was a “dress down day,” where Villanova students didn’t have to wear their uniforms and could dress casually. More fundraisers are still to come.

Borrowman said they are planning to raise at least $50,000 this year. They have already raised over $5,000.

Relay for Life will be a nine-hour walkathon with other games and activities June 2. There will also be a “Survivors’ Lap” to honour those who battled cancer and came through it.

“It’s nice to see the whole school come together to support Relay for Life,” said Borrowman, adding the student-led committee is pleased to also receive the continued support of staff.

Villanova is “really excited” to bring the event back this year, she continued, and they are reaching out to their elementary feeder schools as well as friends and family to donate.

“Everyone is welcome,” said Borrowman. “Any donation is welcome.”

Storm chasing group keeping their eyes to the sky

By Fred Groves

Severe weather can happen at any time and having as much information as possible is important.

The Amherstburg River Bookshop’s “Hole in the Wall” venue recently hosted a presentation by the Windsor Essex Storm and Environment Enthusiasts (WE SEE).

“We don’t claim to be experts, we’re not meteorologists. We are volunteers,” explained WE SEE co-founder Mary Ann Rampersaud.

Since 2018, the team, which has volunteers throughout the county has been a resource for local residents when it comes to informing about weather conditions. WE SEE has over 10,000 followers.

“We have a good idea of what’s going on in the county,” said Rampersaud.

Windsor-Essex has seen more than its share of devastating weather. In 1973, eight people were killed when a deadly tornado ripped through the Windsor Curling Club.

Leamington suffered severe damage 13 years ago when another tornado whipped through the area topping trees and damaging houses. And just a few short months ago the ice storm knocked out power for many.

“This is our home, and we want to protect it as much as possible.”

Rampersaud noted that WindsorEssex County is the thunderstorm capital of Canada and Harrow has more lightning strikes than anywhere else in the country.

WE SEE does not issue any formal warnings but provide general