HASTINGS residents are being urged to get behind the Relay For Life, which will be staged at Stuart Park in Port Macquarie this weekend.
“We encourage everyone to come by for an hour, a day or even the whole weekend and be part of the fun and make a donation,” Cancer Council NSW spokeswoman Eliza Voshege said.
The Relay For Life is a relay event for teams. Funds are raised through sponsorship and fund-raising events leading up to the relay and during the relay itself. Money raised go to Cancer Council, which uses them for local cancer prevention programs, information and support services and advocacy initiatives as well as cancer research.
Ms Voshege said they had worked hard to make the fund-raiser even more exciting than ever before.
“We have our very own kids’ program with face painters, crafts and kids games,” she said.
“We also have over 12 local live entertainment acts with names such as James Bennett, Dinner with Milton and Right Go Left.
“There is a mini health expo and lots of activities to be part of either physically or vicariously such as the Undie 500 and Miss Relay.
“The fun continues well after dark with a silent disco for all ages.”
Ms Voshege said more than 560 participants had already registered for this year’s relay.
“People relay for different reasons,” she said. “Some do it in memory of a loved one who has passed away from cancer. Some people do it to show how proud they are at having survived. Some use it to show their commitment to beating cancer, and some just want to be involved and make a difference.”
The fun kicks off at 10am on Saturday and will run through until 10am on Sunday.
For more information visit relayforlife.org.au or facebook.com/relayforllifeaustralia
***SIDEBAR***
WASCALS pitch in at relay
THE WASCALS are only one of many teams which will be participating in the relay.
Far from what their name implies, they are a dedicated group of Westport High students whose aim is to raise awareness, support the community and give hope to those members of the community affected by cancer.
Founded in 1992, their clever name stands for Westport Aware Students of Cancer and Leukaemia Sufferers.
Since being recognised as a charity, the WASCALS have raised tens of thousands of dollars for the cancer cause through raffles, school socials and other events and have been involved with Hastings Relay For Life since its inception. It is expected that there will be more than 40 WASCALS members participating in various ways at the relay this year.
This WASCALS will assist with the candlelight ceremony by filling the hope message bags with sand and setting them around the track. The group also participates in the Miss Relay competition and will be helping with the children’s program.
To raise funds prior to relay they ran a lolly guessing competition at school. Tacking Point Lions Club also supported them with a donation.
“Our team loves being involved each year with Hastings Relay For Life,” team member Kira said. “We enjoy being a part of such a great cause and helping people and their families who have been touched by cancer.”
