Teams rallied for Cancer Society Relay For Life

Media release: 11 January 2009

Teams rallied for Cancer Society Relay For Life

Teams are being rallied together for the next Relay For Life which is being hosted by the Cancer Society in Christchurch next year.

Relay For Life honours the lives of people touched by cancer.

“We encourage everyone to put together a team to take part in this exciting overnight relay – whether they are a family group, sports team, business or community group – everyone is welcome,” says Jane Sherriff, from the Canterbury/West Coast Division of the Cancer Society.

The $10 registration fee paid by each participant provides them with a camp site, free breakfast and Relay for Life T-Shirt. Each team is also encouraged to raise funds for the work of the Cancer Society.

The Cancer Society provides support and assistance to people throughout Canterbury and the West Coast with a range of support services including a cancer information freephone (0800 CANCER – 0800 226 237), transport assistance, accommodation assistance for out of town patients, welfare grants and patient support groups. In addition to these services the Cancer Society also funds cancer research and health promotion programmes.

“Relay For Life represents the hope that those who have lost their lives to cancer will not be forgotten and that those who face cancer will be supported,” says Jane Sherriff.

The 24-hour Relay For Life is being held at Canterbury Park (the A and P Showgrounds) from 12 noon on Saturday 28 February until 12 noon on Sunday 1 March.

Fitness is not an issue as most of the participants walk round the track, and people of all ages participate, says Jane.

“Each team carries a baton around the track and there are no rules about whether team members walk or run, how often or for how long.”

A highlight of the Relay For Life is the survivors’ lap of honour where cancer survivors walk around the track. A candlelight service is held on Saturday night to remember those people who are no longer with us.

More than 90 teams participated in Christchurch’s first Relay for Life earlier this year and raised $160,000 for the Cancer Society.

Relay for Life started in America in 1985 and, since then, has developed into the world’s biggest fundraising event, and this year there will be 16 Relay For Life events around New Zealand.

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