18 January 2011

Gather your team and have some fun while raising money for the Cancer Society at this year’s Relay For Life.

Teams camp on-site and take turns to walk (or run if they wish) the relay as a way of honouring the lives of people touched by cancer.

Relay For Life will be held at Canterbury Park (A & P Showgrounds) on the weekend of March 5 and 6 and in Rolleston on the weekend of February 26 and 27.

“Relay For Life represents the hope that those who have lost their lives to cancer will not be forgotten and that those who face cancer will be supported,” says Jane Sherriff, from the Canterbury/West Coast Division of the Cancer Society.

This year’s relays in Rolleston and Christchurch will not be 24 hours as in previous years but will start on the Saturday afternoon and end late on the Sunday morning.

“With Saturday morning sport and other weekend activities we felt that reducing the hours would encourage more people to participate,” says Jane.

“We encourage everyone to put together a team to take part in this exciting overnight relay – whether they are a family group, sports team, business or community group – everyone is welcome.”

A highlight of Relay For Life is the survivors’ lap of honour where cancer survivors walk around the track. A candlelight service is held on Saturday night to remember those people who are no longer with us.

Fitness is not an issue as most of the participants walk round the track as the relay is a non-competitive event with people of all ages taking part, says Jane.

“Each team carries a baton around the track and there are no rules about whether team members walk or run, how often or for how long.”

Relay For Life started in America in 1985 and, since then, has developed into the world’s biggest fundraising event.

Funds raised go to the Cancer Society to provide support and assistance to people throughout Canterbury and the West Coast, including a cancer information freephone (0800 CANCER – 0800 226 237), transport assistance, accommodation assistance for out of town patients, welfare grants and patient support groups.

The Cancer Society also funds cancer research and health promotion programmes.

ENDS

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