Community
21 February, 2025
Relay on track to end cancer
RELAY For Life is on in Warrnambool tomorrow (Saturday) and Cancer Council Victoria is calling on the community to get back on track to help end cancer by joining the powerful Relay For Life movement.
About 350 residents from across 34 teams will walk laps for 10 hours, working to hit their fundraising goal of $50,000.
With the Warrnambool tally sitting at almost $43,000 (as of early yesterday morning), organisers are hopeful some last-minute donations will see the target reached.
Relay For Life is a fundraising event that empowers communities to come together to celebrate cancer survivors, remember loved ones, and fight back against cancer.
During the event, teams will complete laps around the Deakin University oval to signify that every day we’re making strides towards a cancer-free future.
With about 230 people diagnosed with cancer in the Warrnambool region each year, Relay For Life raises funds for Cancer Council’s vital research, prevention and support services.
On average, more than 134,000 participants take part in Relay For Life events nationally, raising about $14 million each year.
There are a number of ways you can be part of Relay For Life, including becoming a team leader or joining a team, becoming a member of a local committee or by volunteering at a Relay For Life event.
Relay for Life team member Madeline Farley said she had first gotten involved in the event about 10 years ago through a team at her high school but signed up again after losing her mother to cancer in January last year.
“My brother and I were getting a tattoo in memory of my mum, and Relay for Life popped up on my social media and my brother suggested we should start a team in honour of mum,” Ms Farley said.
“The event wasn’t long after she passed away, so a lot of our friends and family wanted to get involved and we thought it would be a good way to remember her, as well as give back to Cancer Council Victoria and connect with people who’ve had similar experiences.
“Mum wouldn’t have gotten to that extra time without the treatment options that were available to her and the support of her medical team – we feel like we’re helping someone else going through something really tough.”
Tomorrow’s relay will start at 12 noon and will conclude around 10.30pm.
A special candlelight ceremony will take place at dusk (around 8.45pm).
Live music, food and entertainment will also feature throughout the day.
Anyone wishing to make a donation – or to join the Warrnambool Weekly team – simply head to https://www.relayforlife.org.au/fundraisers/warrnamboolweekly
