Community
18 October, 2024
Who will you relay for?
WARRNAMBOOL sisters Jodie Carey and Emily Veale are once again working hard to ensure next year’s Relay for Life is a huge success.
The siblings are hoping locals will get behind the event, register a team, make a donation or even volunteer to help out on the day.
The 2025 Warrnambool relay, which will again be held at Deakin University, looks set to be even bigger and better than before with 10 teams already registered and a strong and dedicated committee working hard behind the scenes.
“Next year’s relay will be held on Saturday, February 22 and we’ve already raised more than $10,000 so I’m hopeful we can smash last year’s total of just over $60,000,” Jodie said.
“This year we have a terrific group of volunteers on the committee and we are aiming for 25 teams so we’re calling out for schools, community groups, sporting groups and others to register now and join us for the relay.”
Celebrating survivors, remembering loved ones lost and fighting back against cancer, the annual Relay for Life is a fun experience that unites a community while raising funds for Cancer Council’s research, prevention and support services.
Jodie, Emily and their family will be walking for their beloved mum who sadly lost her battle to cancer more than a decade ago.
“Our team name is Heather’s Heroes; our husbands, children, family and friends are always keen to walk which would make mum proud,” Emily said.
The committee is currently busy planning a full day/evening of celebrations, activities and events set to entertain participants and visitors.
“Students from Emmanuel College will lead a host of activities in the centre of the oval, there will be massages for a gold coin donation, food vans, a coffee van, and we’re working on other activities.”
Participants are encouraged to take along a can of food that will be used to hold candles for the special candlelight ceremony later in the night.
The tins will then be donated to Foodshare for distribution to needy families across the district.
“We will have a special opening lap for survivors and carers, which will be led by the Warrnambool Pipe Band, as well as an afternoon tea for them, and at about 8pm we will stop walking and have the candlelight ceremony.
“We’re expecting the walk to finish around 10pm when teams will gather for the closing address and final lap.”
The Warrnambool event will run from 12 noon until 10pm.
Those wishing to participate can register online and select Warrnambool as their venue.
