Seven teams have already signed up for next year’s Relay for Life in Ashburton.
It’s on Saturday, March 21 at the Ashburton A&P Showgrounds.
Cancer Society community engagement manager Aimee Cosgrove said the community event was a celebration, a chance to remember and fight back against cancer.
The opening includes a survivors celebration lap and morning tea, and it winds up with a candlelight ceremony and silent lap of remembrance.
‘‘Relay for Life is a powerful initiative that brings together hundreds of Kiwis to honour survivors, support caregivers, and commemorate loved ones lost to cancer,’’ she said.
It runs from 10am to 10pm, and is a day of entertainment and refreshments, ensuring participants stay energized as they take turns passing the baton in a relay format.
Teams can dress up in whatever theme they wanted, and there were prizes for the best dressed themed team.
‘‘Teams are also encouraged to sell things on the day for fundraising. The food will be sold by teams, not vendors,’’ she said.
‘‘There will be entertainment up on a main stage – for the entire day – and games in the middle of the track during the event as well.’’
‘‘Everyone is encouraged to rally their friends, family, classmates, and colleagues to join in the fight against cancer. Small steps can make a remarkable difference for people affected by cancer in our community,’’ Cosgrove said.
‘‘Whether you have a personal connection to cancer or simply want to make an impact, this is a chance to come together as a community and show your support.’’
Those who register now can get early bird registration of $10 per person online via midcanterbury.relayforlife.org.nz
Organisers had a goal to get 80 teams to take part and to raise $175k.
‘‘It’s a big goal, it’s the biggest one we have gone for,’’ she said. ‘‘We haven’t had relay in person since 2018. Covid got in the way, it was supposed to happen in 2021 but they couldn’t have crowd (events) so they did a virtual one in 2022.
‘‘It raised a lot of money but it’s about getting together. It’s all about celebrating those who have beaten it, remembering those who have lost and fighting for those who have cancer.’’
Among the fundraising was the sale of raffle tickets for a nifty wee 1975 Morris Mini in daffodil-colour yellow.
The raffle closes on December 16. Tickets cost $20 and are limited to 7500. They can be purchased from the Cancer Society, Property Brokers, ANZ, House of Travel, Forsyth Barr or Argyle Welsh and Finnigan.
– Register a team at midcanterbury.relayforlife.org.nz
