A TOTAL of 44 teams from across Yarra Ranges have raised more than $67,000 as part of the 2012 Cancer Council Relay For Life.
For the hundreds of participants, the 18-hour team relay was the culmination of months of team-building and fund-raising. Many of the entrants who pitched their tents at the Don Road Sporting Complex on Saturday afternoon, are seasoned Relay performers.
The event started this year with participants spelling out the word ‘HOPE’ for an aerial photograph and taking part in filming for an advertisement promoting Relay For Life worldwide.
Local musicians, games and zumba workshops kept them entertained as they strolled, ran, skipped and invariably chatted their way around the boundary of Healesville football ground for the overnight event.
Family groups, sports clubs, schools, work and other community groups were again represented in the mix that brings people together with common goals of raising funds for cancer research, supporting those who have the disease, and remembering those who have lost the fight.
Committee chairperson Megan Fleming said the event had been amazing and thanked her committee and the teams for their support.
“The reason I love Relay is I can walk around this ground at any time of the day or through the night and see so many smiling faces that are just happy to be here,” she said, announcing the $67,000 total on Sunday morning. “This just would not happen without you,” she said
Cancer Council Victoria spokesperson Debbie Stringer also thanked the committee and the relay teams for their support of Relay for Life and for participating in the filming of the advertisement.
“The thing that this Relay shows us is that every community is effected by cancer,” Ms Stringer said.
“That ‘s why we can take an ad that’s made here and show it everywhere in the world because every family, every workplace, every community is going to have that experience at some time.”
Ms Stringer said it was vital that research continued, particularly into cancers that were more difficult to treat.
“It’s also about prevention and the things we can do,” she said. “We know people do better if they have strong support and you are showing by being here that you care about cancer and people with cancer and you can make a difference.”
Relay fundraising will continue for the next four weeks with teams continuing to call in sponsorship promises and take donations.
Readers wishing to contribute to the Yarra Ranges Relay for Life can go to www.relayforlife.com.au and donate via the Yarra Ranges page. For more information on the event, call 13 11 20.
