At some time or another over a life time everyone will know someone who has had cancer and passed away or who has survived. Personally, I have had two family members and one friend of the family who have had cancer. One, sadly has passed away, one is a survivor and one who is going through treatment as I write this article.
Over the years, I have contributed funds to a variety of charities and written a number of articles about raising the much-needed funds to help fight against cancer.
Form a team or join another to help raise much needed funds. Image courtesy of event organiser.
If you have never been involved in raising funds for cancer, now is your chance to do it in 2017 by signing up as either a:
Register as a Participant.
Volunteer.
Survivors & Carers.
Corporate Team.
Donate.
Bark for Life.
In the beginning, there was one! In 2017 there will be over 140,000 people who will take to the track to raise much needed funds to help fight against cancer.
Back in 1985 a colorectal surgeon by the name of Dr Gordy Klatt, wanted to raise awareness of cancer and boost the income of his local cancer charity. He spent a gruelling twenty-four hours circulating a track in Tacoma, Washington, and raised over US$27,000, and showed that one person really can make a difference.
Since then, Relay for Life has become the largest fundraising event for cancer in the world. Celebrated by more than 4 million people in over 20 countries, this inspirational overnight event empowers and unites local communities to fight cancer.
Sutherland Relay for Life offers the Shire community the chance to get together and have some fun, while at the same time raising awareness and much-needed funds for Cancer Council NSW.
Image courtesy of the event organiser.
Over the past 15 years, the
Sutherland Shire Relay for Life has raised over $5 million for Cancer Council's research, prevention and support programs.
Their goal for 2017 is to raise $500,000.00. So, to help them meet their target why don't you get a group of family or friends together and register a team.
Registrations are now open, so get your team together, and join them for the opportunity to celebrate life, remember loved ones, and contribute to the fight against cancer!
At the time of writing there are 46 teams with 80 participants who have already raised $30,603.78.
Click here to find how much they have so far raised.
Pay by 12th March 2017: $15 per person (early bird) or from the 13th March 2017 onwards: $20 per person.
Click here to register.
The Relay for Life is not only about raising the much-needed funds to help fight cancer. It is about getting together with family, friends, work colleagues or joining another team and having fun while celebrating with a survivor or remembering someone you have lost to cancer.
It's now your chance to remember someone who had or has cancer. Image courtesy of the event organiser.
It's not all about who finishes first or for how long you walk, run or jog around the track. It's about the most important thing and that is helping to raise funds.
I have taken the liberty of taking what has been written on the Sutherland Shires link page as it best sums up what Relay for Life is about.
Relay for Life is an emotionally charged, 24-hour team fundraising event. It is open to everyone in the community, with teams of 10 to 15 people challenging themselves to keep their baton moving in a relay style walk or run around Don Lucas Reserve.
Alongside Relay itself, the 2017 event promises a fantastic weekend with something for everyone big stage, live music, great food, super rides, and games for the kids! Relay participants have the opportunity to camp on-site overnight, as well as the chance to participate in special moments like the candle lighting ceremony at dusk a moving time of reflection and remembrance to support those living with cancer, and to honour those lost to the disease.
There is plenty of entertainment to be had by all. Image courtesy of the event organiser.
Maybe you would like to camp out overnight. Image courtesy of event organiser.
It's a team event where friends, family or co-workers register a team, then come down on the weekend and take turns to walk, run or jog to raise money for Cancer Council NSW while having an amazing time. The idea is to have one person from the team on the track at all times in a Relay style event. While many camp out for the entirety, some visit Relay for just a few hours, but no one leaves without being affected because Relay is full of emotion and pure inspiration.
HOW TO GET STARTED?
Now that I have your attention what do you need to do next?
Register either yourself or a team.
Make the first donation - If you back yourself, others will too so give yourself a head start and make the first donation then share your donation via email and social media.
Get Your Team Involved - Organise fundraising events.
Create a blog - and recruit team members and donors using our easy-to-use e-mailing system.
Share your profile to social media Facebook or Instagram is a great place to recruit team members and donors.
IDEAS FOR RAISING FUNDS.
Get you family and friends together and join up for 2017. Image courtesy of event organiser.
$5 can help us give a newly-diagnosed cancer patient important support and information resources to help them through their cancer journey.
$10 can help offer free exercise programs that assist cancer patients in building strength and fitness during and after treatment.
$25 can help transport cancer patients to and from hospital for treatment.
$50 can help the Cancer Council 13 11 20 provide free and confidential information and support on all aspects of cancer.
$100 can help provide free accommodation for cancer patients, their families and carers during treatment.
$500 can help pay an overdue electricity, phone, gas or rates bill for a cancer patient who has not been able to work.
$5000 can help fund ground-breaking research into new and better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer.
HOW TO FIND OUT MORE?
Visit the Sutherland Relay for Life web site.
Click here.
Visit their Facebook web page. Click here.
Check out their Instagram photos.
Click here.
Up load your photos onto Facebook & Instagram. Image courtesy of event organiser.
Up load your photos onto Facebook & Instagram. Image courtesy of event organiser
All you need to do now is to get cracking and either join another team or form your own team to help raise the much-needed funds to fight cancer.
For more information, you can send Haley Hornitzky an email at Haley.hornitzky@nswcc.gov.au or call on 9334 1600
