Relay reaps rewards

At the closing ceremony for the 24-hour event at the Spring Creek Recreation Reserve on Saturday evening, the Cancer Council Victoria coordinator for the event, Naomi Young, announced the tally was $67,715.57 for the year.
This brought the total raised since the relay $344,000.
Ms Young thanked all members of the 20 fundraising teams, the “yellow T-shirt brigade” of volunteers, all those who took part in the relay and those who supported activities during the year for their hard work to fund the Cancer Council’s research, support and development programs.
Organising committee chair Magdalena Wheatland presented the award for the highest fundraising team to Life Activities Club, which raised $12,816.
Two other teams, the Surf Coast Striders and Tina’s Team CFA, raised more than $5,000, earning them the right to nominate the cancer research program they wished to back.
St Patty’s Team Green, celebrating St Patrick’s Day last week, won the award for the best themed stand, while the Brainiacs team won the award for the best baton kept circulating around the oval during the relay.
The Bendigo Bank’s Sprinting Piggies group from Anglesea won the teams challenge event, run on the hour during the relay.
Ms Wheatland presented the Spirit of Relay award to representatives of the two Surf Coast Shire teams, the Hares (running group) and Tortoises (walking group), in recognition of the support and commitment of the shire to the Surf Coast Relay for Life over the past Mayor Rose Hodge said the relay’s tally showed what a generous community there is in the shire. She added the relay’s theme of “hope” summed up what had been achieved.
Federal Member for Corangamite Sarah Henderson commended the community for its disease that touches so many.
She said her son, 10, had told her “there will be a cure for cancer and I know I will see it in my lifetime”.