By Josh Howald

Linda McLaughlin may have walked away from a battle with cancer, but she won’t walk away from the cause. And she will walk all night August 15 at the annual Relay For Life at the Davidson Centre.

Cancer survivor Linda McLaughlin enjoys her backyard with her grand-dog Neely last week. (Josh Howald photo)

McLaughlin will undergo a reconstruction surgery in August that should complete a battle with breast cancer.

“It is the final step of the process,” she said. “Almost three years to the day after I had my first surgery.”

While it is a relief, the whole ordeal won’t, and can’t, be forgotten.

“It’s different for different for people. It can be hard. It isn’t just physical,” she said Thursday morning in her backyard. “It’s getting used to a new normal, it is a work in progress. The scars won’t go away. It makes you examine how you are living your life, and making a better (life).”

That includes improving the lives of others. She and husband Doug have become a Big Couple with Big Brothers Big Sisters Kincardine and she has just completed a peer support course that will qualify her to mentor others with breast cancer. In addition to the Kincardine Relay For Life, she will take part in another cancer fundraiser later this summer – a  two-day, 60 km journey on foot.

“But basically I’m just enjoying every day,” she said. She loves to garden and spend time with her friends and family. She and Doug are heading to Europe for a visit to Italy and France in September.

Her family and friends will walk with her in this year’s event, as they have the past two years. The Relay For Life event involves a team of people finding sponsorship, and then having at least one of the team walking the Davidson Centre track from 7 p.m. until 7 a.m. Entertainment is provided by the Coast FM.

“At our maturing age, I look forward to pulling an all-nighter,” she laughed. “It’s a way to relive my youth.”

However, the most important aspects of the Relay For Life are raising  funds for the Canadian Cancer Society and supporting those that are fighting cancer.

“It’s not just me, but my dad had prostate cancer, I have a brother with testicular cancer. It just seems it affects and touches people you know every day.”

There were 35 teams in last year’s Relay For Life, and McLaughlin hopes as many will enjoy it again this year. Other Relay For Life events have sprung up in Port Elgin and Mildmay, so that may affect attendance slightly.

“I think it is just a chance to get out and have a good time with friends and family while giving back to the community,” said McLaughlin.

It isn’t too late to register a team for this year’s Relay For Life, or to sponsor a team. For more information you can call McLaughlin at 519-396-2605 or Jen Lowry at 396-3621. You can also learn more at www.cancer.ca and following the links or by E-mailing McLaughlin or Lowry at mclaughlin@bmts.com or jlowry@brucetelecom.com respectively.