TIM BOTTAMS<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
More than 50 people are registered to take part, and with two weeks to go until the event, committee member Samantha Smith said it\u2019s important more people sign up.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are down this year compared to last year,\u201d she said. \u201cUnfortunately, it\u2019s expected in out current climate, not everyone can contribute to fundraising.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Relay for Life Ballarat returned last year following a three-year break, and raised more than $50,000 for funding recipient Cancer Council.<\/p>\n
Nine teams have registered to take part in this year\u2019s local initiative, and Ms Smith said she\u2019d like to 15 groups participating.<\/p>\n
Traditionally held as an overnight event prior to COVID, the upcoming event will again instead run over a single day from 12pm to 10pm.<\/p>\n
Ms Smith has been participating in the event for seven years and is a recent addition to the organising committee.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d never heard of Relay for Life and my sister-in-law Alicia prompted me to get involved,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHer sister and my sister-in-law faced her own cancer battle and of course other family members as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis 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\u2019t have to be there the whole time and there\u2019ll be plenty of family activities.\u201d<\/p>\n
The event will take place at Federation University\u2019s Mount Helen campus oval on Saturday 2 March.<\/p>\n