Relay to register for cancer support walk

TIM BOTTAMS

WITH the annual Relay for Life fundraising event set to return next month, organisers are calling out for participants to get their walking shoes on for cancer research.

More than 50 people are registered to take part, and with two weeks to go until the event, committee member Samantha Smith said it’s important more people sign up.

“We are down this year compared to last year,” she said. “Unfortunately, it’s expected in out current climate, not everyone can contribute to fundraising.

“We’ve had some interest in the past week so hopefully we can get the numbers up. Cancer affects many of us so this is a way to give back as a whole in a heartfelt experience.”

Relay for Life Ballarat returned last year following a three-year break, and raised more than $50,000 for funding recipient Cancer Council.

Nine teams have registered to take part in this year’s local initiative, and Ms Smith said she’d like to 15 groups participating.

Traditionally held as an overnight event prior to COVID, the upcoming event will again instead run over a single day from 12pm to 10pm.

Ms Smith has been participating in the event for seven years and is a recent addition to the organising committee.

“I’d never heard of Relay for Life and my sister-in-law Alicia prompted me to get involved,” she said.

“Her sister and my sister-in-law faced her own cancer battle and of course other family members as well.

“This is our way of giving back and to work towards a cancer-free future. It is a relay and across 10 hours but people won’t have to be there the whole time and there’ll be plenty of family activities.”

The event will take place at Federation University’s Mount Helen campus oval on Saturday 2 March.

To register to take part, visit bit.ly/3UDBPKS.