Counting the cents

By Tania Martin
EVERY cent raised for the fight to find a cure for cancer counts.
This is the motto that a group of Emerald people stuck to when raising money for the Cardinia Casey Relay for Life.
The Curators, a group of more than 45 people from the Emerald area, have spent the past six months raising money for the relay.
The relay, which was held recently, ran for two days and raised $206,000 for the Cancer Council Victoria.
In its first year the Curators have entered the relay and managed to raise more than $16,000.
The Curators came third in the money raising stakes just behind Don Stephens from Pakenham who raised more than $20,000 and Team Jess of Narre Warren with $76,119.
Melanie Hall and Lana Maher of the Curators joined forces last year to start the Emerald team and have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support.
Both women have parents who are battling cancer and wanted as many people to get behind the relay as possible.
Ms Hall said both the Emerald and Berwick communities had shown a great support for the team and dug deep to help find a cure for cancer.
“We were very touched by all the support and we just can’t believe we raised so much money,” she said
Ms Hall said the team is now planning for a bigger and better relay next year and is setting a new challenge.
“We are aiming high next year and setting our target at $50,000 – that might be a bit ambitious but we will give it our best shot.”
Ms Hall is urging people in the community to get behind the 2008 relay and start putting a team together now so that even more money can be raised.
“Every cent raised helps find a cure for this disease that affects so many,” she said.