Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back

This past weekend (May 19th into the 20th) we celebrated the first annual Canadian Cancer Societies "Relay For Life" in Alert. It was the first of it's kind for the station and as well for Canada's largest territory, Nunavut! It was the northernmost relay in the world and we had a blast! Here's a sneak peak into what went down :) 

Meet Erik. He's the Environment Canada type and he volunteered his burly beard and hair for a great cause. 

 Mid way through I gave it the "Kristy Doyle stamp of approval"! 

Meet Max. He's the Canadian Base Operators type and he volunteered his #1 asset to getting the ladies for this honourable cause as well! We got one last grope in there before it was buzzed off by yours truly!  

The bald and the beautiful and together they raised over $500 for the cause :) 

Before the opening ceremony, guests take time to write "in memory of" and "in honour of" luminaries for those who have suffered and are currently battling cancer. 

Moi! 

Almost the entire station (approx 70 personnel), military, civilian and visitors alike came to take part in the opening ceremonies. 

Due to the nature of our location, the majority of our fundraising came from more "southern" donors. To keep them a part of our ceremony, anyone who donated on-line got a "Thank You" heart to put on our wall of fame. We really appreciated all of your support! 

The dryness of the air eliminates the ability to use the traditional tea lights in our luminaries (fire hazard) therefore, for a safer option, we used glow sticks to light our luminaries prior to a moment of silence. 

The inaugural lap of our relay was 1km outside in the -20°C air! Spirits were high and it was amazing to see everyone out together. 

Bonnie and me :) 

Laps around our indoor and outdoor track continued for the entire night. Throughout the evening, people who weren't even on the team came to join us by walking and keeping spirits raised. 

Miss you xo 

Some yummy treats courtesy of :

Team Orange Smiles. 

Meet MWO Jim Britt. Jim is our stations construction and engineering officer (SCEO). Jim was our guest of honour for the relay as he has been cancer free since October of 2004! Participating in the survivors victory lap he did not only walk, but ran! With a goal to walk a kilometre for every year of his life (57), MWO Britt not only accomplished this but also 3km more!

As a team we completed 916kms over the duration of the night and raised $9, 000! Personally, I finished 41kms! In the words of Casey Lessard "Cancer knows no boundaries" which was reflected in the emotions shown in the isolation of the Canadian Arctic. A very intimate and moving experience, it was yet another memory in Alert that will last me a lifetime. 

Relay for Life, Alert

As most of you know my name is Kristy Doyle. I am a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and I am currently stationed at CFS (Canadian Forces Station) Alert in Alert, Nunavut. CFS Alert is located on the northeastern tip of Ellesmere Island and is the most northern permanently inhabited station in the entire world located at 82°28’N 62°30’W.

Throughout my childhood years I was influenced by the military in many ways, particularly because my father and my grandfather were serving and retired members of the RCAF. I was able to see the majority of Canada while I growing up and was inspired by the pair to join myself in 2009.

In early 2010 my grandfather, Ernie Spencer, was diagnosed with colon cancer. My grandfather was the first person in my inner circle to be effected by cancer but one of many in my extended family. Regretfully, in early August of 2010, while I was enrolled in the Canadian Forces School of Meteorology, my grandfather passed away.

The Canadian Cancer Society and the Relay for Life events have been close to my families hearts for many years. My grandfather, while living in British Colombia, volunteered to be a driver for patients between treatments and home and as a family we would participate in Relay for Life events together. It was his generous and kind heart that lead me to the Canadian Cancer Society and he was truly my role model.

In 2011 as the Relay for Life events drew closer and closer, I realized I would not be emotionally ready to participate at that time. When the event came and passed in my community, I was disappointed in myself for not participating in the ceremony, as I know that is what he would have wanted me to do. On that day I promised myself I would participate the following year.

In December of 2011 I was deployed to CFS Alert. As the winter months rolled into Spring I was wondering when we would participate in Relay for Life, an event the military is highly supportive of and involved with. To my surprise there was nothing in the works to happen. I spoke with my chain of command and requested that I initiate the Relay for Life in Alert, which is a lodger unit of CFB Trenton and have our relay be listed as a partner with them. With help from the Ontario coordinator Becky Mitts, I was able to begin to plan and prepare for the worlds most northerly Relay for Life.

When I began “Team Alert” I had the option to select what our team would consist of; family, friends, coworkers or other. I pondered at this for a moment because in Alert, with an average population of about 70 personnel, it seemed all would and does apply here. A very enthusiastic team, we began fundraising with little expectation and within the first week of setting up our online donation website, we surpassed the initial goal of $1200. Since that week we have had to raise our goal four times… and counting!

Relay for Life to me, is more than just a fundraiser. It shows a definite link in humanity when optimistic people unite together to reach a common goal. At CFS Alert, in complete isolation, we have made a connection through this campaign, whose ripples have reached much further shores than I could have ever imagined. With this being the first relay in Nunavut, I have spoke with others living in larger communities who are interested in participating for next year. Again, this shows the connection that cancer has on humans, connecting even those from the most isolated communities in our vast country.

Our Relay for Life will be held on the 19^th of May into the 20^th and we will be doing laps outside in the chilly air of the Canadian Arctic. I am so grateful to everyone who has supported me in initiating this event as well as those participating and hope that its effects continue to linger in Alert and it becomes a tradition. I know my grandfather would be so excited about this event and so for me; it has been a way to connect us together once again. 

If you still wish to pledge on my behalf you can do so: HERE!

a fading cerulean sky

The full moon poured light over us this weekend. I would have to say that the first image of this set is one of my favorite images I have ever taken in my entire life. The looming shadows of the nine crosses cast by the moonlight are so unsettling to me it sent a chill up my spine when I saw the photograph and took my breath away.

These crosses are the grave site of 9 men from a Lancaster crash that occurred in July of 1950. This particularly touched home for me (quite literally) because the flight came from the base my father retired at and where I spent the majority of my childhood. While reading an excerpt from the book 50 Years: The History of Greenwood 1942-1992 I learned a little bit more about the crash:

“On 31st of July, a Lancaster piloted by W/C French had been detailed to carry out a parts and mail drop at this then most northerly Canadian habitation. The parachute attached to one of the supply packs became entangled in the aircraft’s tail-plane.

To the horror of the stunned scientists on the ground, the large Lanc crashed out of control, exploded and burned, just 1000 feet from where they stood. There were no survivors. This was the first fatal crash of a Greenwood aircraft since the war. Seven of the nine on board were 405 Squadron aircrew. The other two were government scientists.

The next day, a 103 RU Canso flew north to Alert to evacuate the bodies. Due to aircraft damage on the attempted take-off from Alert when the aircraft hit submerged ice, the decision was made to bury the Lancaster crew at Alert."

It's amazing and scary to think about the importance of flight safety. Aside from doing the weather here, I am the acting ATC (Air Traffic Controller) and I do the radio correspondence with the planes. Watching them ease down onto the runway my heart stops beating and only resumes when I see they have landed safely. I always am so worried I have made an altimeter error (Every 0.01 is a difference of 10ft) and I often re-check several times. It scares me sometimes to know that lives are in my hands.

The remainder of the photos were taken at the end of the runway, the most northerly point on our station. The moon reflecting off the ice is looking out over the frozen arctic ocean; my mind often wonders to what is going on beneath the ice. The third is of Crystal and Poulynn Mountain off into the distance. The fourth and fifth we have the runway approach lights; I always think when the runway is lit up it looks so beautiful. Sixth is the runway itself and seventh is the view of the station off in the distance from the northern shores. Finally eighth is myself and the Alert Sign. I can't wait to get a picture of this in the light!

Over all, another successful weekend exploring into the dark. Exactly one month until we start getting civil twilight and I can't wait to explore this frozen land without a veil of darkness hiding its beauty. Until next time I leave you with these two quotes that have got me through the past month;

Beauty deprived of its proper foils and adjuncts ceases to be enjoyed as beauty, just as light deprived of all shadows ceases to be enjoyed as light. 
-John Ruskin

&

A smiling face is always beautiful.