ABOUT 1000 Hastings residents are recovering this week after a marathon effort on the weekend to raise funds for the NSW Cancer Council.
The 2014 Hastings Relay for Life held at Stuart Park in Port Macquarie from 10am on Saturday to 10am on Sunday raised at least $95,000 – and this number is expected to grow as teams continue to bank their funds over the coming weeks.
“On behalf of Cancer Council NSW, I am just thrilled that this money will allow our many cancer information and support services, cancer prevention programs, advocacy initiatives, and of course research to continue in the Hastings region,” Cancer Council community relations co-ordinator Eliza Voshege said.
The event kicked off at 10am on Saturday with the opening ceremony and the first lap was walked by survivors and carers. The rest of the relay cheered them on during this first lap, as symbols of hope and a strong reminder of why everyone was there. The relay started officially after that, as did the fund-raisers.
This year teams put on their own individual fund-raisers and there was everything from raffles to cake drives, art and crafts, giant games of snakes and ladders, waffles, milkshakes, three-legged races and more.
Crowds were kept entertained by local bands Dazed, Strong Hart and James Bennett, among a host of others. Children were not forgotten and for the first time this year there was a program to help keep them entertained, including face-painting, sand art, kids’ races, apple bobbing and fruit-man making.
Food and drinks – including plenty of hot coffee – was always available and Ms Voshege said a special thankyou must go to Wauchope Rotary for manning the canteen. Participants were also treated to a free healthy breakfast compliments of Port Macquarie Hastings Council’s Eat Well, Live Better Program on Sunday morning.
Ms Voshege said one of the undoubted highlights of the event for many people was the candlelight ceremony of hope held at dusk.
“Participants completed a silent lap at this time, in remembrance of someone who has lost their battle with cancer,” she said.
“It was, as always, an emotional part of the event but tributes were paid and moving messages written on the glowing hope bags set around the track, lighting our way for the night.”
The 1000-plus participants, volunteer organising committee and sponsors were thanked at the closing ceremony on Sunday morning.
Ms Voshege said the event was one of the most enjoyable on record, with good weather throughout the weekend helping keep people in high spirits.
“We were absolutely blessed with blue skies and sun,” Ms Voshege said.
“Given the terrible weather on Friday, we were very lucky – someone was looking down on us, that’s for sure.”
