Relay back on track

THERE’S a feeling of excitement among the Bendigo Relay for Life team, confident that after two years of cancellations the annual Cancer Council fundraiser will go ahead this August.

Chair of Bendigo Relay for Life, Teresa Jones, said the event will run in a 10-hour format, rather than her preferred overnight event, due to COVID-19 restrictions on camping.

“We’re very excited to think we might actually get it to run this year and get a bit back to normal,” she said.

“It’s a 10-hour event not an overnight event but we just want to get it going and we want to get lots of teams to enjoy it and fundraise.

“I have a preference for an overnight, the middle of the night is when people [with cancer] are suffering and when you’re walking in the middle of the night, you’re thinking of people suffering.

“Lots of people didn’t have check-ups in the last two and a half years and people are being diagnosed with cancer that should’ve been picked up before. We need to get the word out and raise money for research.”

Since 2000, the Bendigo Relay for Life has raised $3.6 million for cancer research and support services.

According to the Cancer Council, over 750 people are diagnosed with cancer in Greater Bendigo each year.

Ms Jones said about a dozen teams have signed up already but is hopeful for another 20 teams at least.

“Teams have been a lot less over the last two years and we’re hoping we can build it up again this year,” she said.

“I know everybody’s going back to doing everything they were before so life is very busy at the moment, but we’d still love lots more people.”

The Bendigo Relay for Life will be held on Saturday, 27 August from 12pm at the Bendigo Regional Athletics Complex. To register your team head to relayforlife.org.au/event/bendigo-2022.