A second-year fundraiser supporting cancer treatment, research and awareness is set to blow away the first year's total.
Day 1 for the 'This One's For The Girls' event has seen $68,000 raised. The fundraiser last year saw $71,000 donated.
The event is spearheaded the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation.
Executive Director Houida Kassem feels the event is starting to gain some momentum.
"I think people are starting to hear about it," says Kassem. "I think part of it too is families can get involved so, our Glow Ride — which is our nighttime bike ride which will happen May 27 — you can bring your whole family; so men can get involved, women can get involved, that way you're supporting the people that you care about or that you love the most."
Cancer survivor Zachara Beemer was diagnosed in 2010 and stresses the importance of supportive programs.
She started a support group that's reached 144 local women.
"I've been doing it for seven years. It started as just ladies that met at the [chemotherapy] suite when you were getting chemo — we would meet for tea, coffee; then it was like, 'Yes, we need something like this,'" says Beemer. "There's nothing here in Windsor and Essex County for women."
Beemer hopes the month-long campaign can dispel some myths about cancer.
"That it doesn't just affect older women right?" she says. "My youngest member of my group, when she was diagnosed she was 24 years old, so there's no age limit for breast cancer or any type of cancer right?"
Kassem says the campaign supports a number of their programs including cancer education program RENEW, research grants Seeds4Hope and Dignity Robes.
"Our dignity robes are robes that many women will use when they're in the middle of treatment and they're getting radiation," says Kassem. "You're on a radiation table and you're exposed, well this is a great way to help women not feel so vulnerable by having this dignity robes."
The 'This One's For The Girls' campaign wraps with the Glow Ride bicycle ride set for May 27.
Kassem adds the campaign is a counter to their 'Grow On' campaign targeted at men.