My name is Talitha Young, and I have the honour of co-leading the ‘Heart and Soul’ team for Queen’s Relay For Life 2024.

For as long as I knew my Baba she had been battling cancer. I was too young to truly appreciate the magnitude of what was happening and the effect it had on her and my family, but I knew it wasn’t anything good. My Baba was, and still is, the strongest woman I’ve ever had the privilege to know. From her unmatched kindness and generosity, to her ability to always make me laugh no matter how much pain she was suffering. I aspire to make her proud. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in the early 1990s. However, against all odds and due to the continued advancement in the treatments for cancer and her refusal to give up, she survived for another 20 years. This is the 10-year anniversary of her death and while reminiscing about all she meant to me I will be reflecting on how much progress has been made over the years to further cancer research that wouldn’t have been possible without organizations like the Canadian Cancer Society and without which I may never have known my Baba. This is why I will always and forever Relay for her.

My name is Sloane Kotler, and I have the honour of co-leading Queen’s relay team ‘Heart and Soul’ this year at Relay For Life 2024.

They say everyone knows someone who knows someone who has cancer. You never quite grasp the close intimacy of the disease until it becomes a living, beating part of your life. In 2021 and 2022, my mum was diagnosed with appendix cancer. The news can be shocking to imagine someone so close to you having to suffer in a way that you will and could never understand. I was 16 at the time, and while young and seemingly uneducated, I understood the graveness of the issue and the magnitude of my fears. My mum’s strength and resilience are much to be admired, and she is truly a superhero in my eyes. Today, she is just over 1 year clear, and I’m forever proud of this milestone in her and my family’s life. On this day and every day, I relay for her.

Cancer education and fundraising are foundationally important to us and our family. We are committed to raising awareness about cancer stories and bringing attention to organisations like the Canadian Cancer Society, with whom our families would not have been able to undergo treatments. The goal of Relay For Life is not just to fundraise for cancer research, but it is an opportunity to raise awareness and bring groups of people together to share love and hope.

With your support, we, and other team members, can continue our legacy of relaying for hope! We appreciate any donations you can give, and just know that you are not just giving to a charity but investing in the future of individuals, continuing to relay for a cure.

Thank you for your generous support
~ Talitha Young & Sloane Kotler