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Teams Rally for Cancer Society Relay for Life
Media release: 11 November 2009
Teams are being asked to start fundraising for next year’s Relay For Life which is being hosted by the Cancer Society in Christchurch next year.
Relay For Life runs for 24 hours. Teams camp
on-site and take turns to run or walk the relay as a way of
honouring the lives of people touched by
cancer.
“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.
Relay For Life is
being held at Canterbury Park (the A and P Showgrounds) from
12 noon on Saturday 7 March until 12 noon on Sunday 8
March.
“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,” says Jane
Sherriff, from the Canterbury/West Coast Division of the
Cancer Society.
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.”
More than 90 teams
participated in Christchurch’s first Relay For Life in
2008 and raised $160,000 for the Cancer Society. This
year’s relay attracted 51 teams and raised $110,000. Teams
were from throughout Canterbury including Kaikoura in the
north to Methven and Ashburton.
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.
For more information and to register your team visit
http://www.relayforlife.org.nz.
ENDS
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