Come be a part of the Relay for Life community!
By Kelly Michael, a community fundraising specialist at Cancer Council NSW
Registrations are open for the 25th anniversary year of the Illawarra Relay for Life!
Put together a team with your colleagues, friends, family or community group and come and join us on the track on Saturday, 19 September at the UOW Innovation Campus. Raise funds, dress up, put on your walking shoes and relay your way on our beautiful Wollongong circuit – the scenic lake and grounds at the campus.
Relay is a fun and rewarding day out, where participants walk the track anytime from 9am to 9pm to raise much needed funds towards Cancer Council NSW’s services locally and statewide. The atmosphere is like a family festival – with entertainment, bands, activities, food trucks and more, and this year’s line-up will be augmented by a birthday ‘Happy Hour’ with party games, prizes and anniversary celebrations.
The Opening Ceremony, Survivors and Carers First Lap and Morning Tea, Candlelight Ceremony, and entertainment with fun activities throughout the day are the many reasons people have come back to celebrate Relay over the last quarter of a century.
Relay For Life has been a much-loved event in the Illawarra since 2001 and has raised over $4.2 million to date. These funds are vital in continuing the work of Cancer Council NSW, providing funding for services for people and families affected by cancer, world-first cancer research and programs that work towards the collective vision of a Cancer Free Future. This includes programs in our local area, such as the Illawarra Transport to Treatment vehicles, and the Cancer Council Information Service located in Wollongong Hospital.
To celebrate its 25th year and the positive impact the event has had in the community, Cancer Council NSW and the Illawarra Relay for Life committee are hoping that this year will be the biggest yet!
The best way to get involved is to register a team and start fundraising. By becoming part of the Relay, you join an amazing community of people working together for a cause, and can enjoy the entertainment, food and activities on the day.
You can head to the Illawarra Relay For Life website to register, or you can also register on the day at the registration desk.
It is through events like Illawarra Relay for Life that we can continue to provide cancer patients and their families in the Illawarra with cancer support and information services such as home help, transport to treatment, 13 11 20 support line, cancer prevention programs, local advocacy, cancer research and offer access to free financial, legal, and emotional support.
