Relay for Life to become an annual event
The successful Ballina Relay for Life, a fund-raiser for the Cancer Council, has proved so popular that it will now be held annually.
The first relay was held in 2003, and on a bi-annual basis.
But organisers have decided, after the remarkable success of last weekend’s relay at Kingsford Smith Park, that it now will be held each year.
“The relay has been a wonderful example of community engagement enabling all members of the community to participate in the mission of the Cancer Council,” an organiser, Doug Stinson, said.
“In addition to raising much-needed funds enabling the brilliant Australian scientists and researchers to continue and expand their incredible work, the relay brings people together to support local cancer survivors, and develop long-lasting relationships of support and counsel.
“Introducing the annual approach would ensure that our survivors and their carers get the opportunity to benefit from this wonderful kind of support every year rather than every second year.”
Doug says that the Relay for Life also brings the role of the Cancer Council directly to the community ‘and enables us to better understand this terrible disease and how we, as a community, can become cancer smart and play a major role in its prevention’.
“It is important to recognise that these relays are totally dependant on teams and the more teams the more successful the relay. As members of a team those attending gain tremendous satisfaction from their involvement and usually leave the relay elated with the event,” he said.
“Towards the close of this year’s event a brief approach was made by the organising committee to participating teams and around 95% of those asked indicated a keenness to be involved again next year. In fact many of those attending for the first time indicated they will be much more successful in fund-raising next year as they have a greater understanding of the concept.”
PICTURES: The start of the event (above) and (below) the local media team made it a fun event.
