Generous hearts in fight
Horshamand District Relay for Life organisers have confirmed that a regional moneyraising effort this year generated about $49,600 in the fight against cancer.
This was despite the COVID-19 pandemic preventing the relay, originally scheduled for Horsham’s Coughlin Park, from going ahead earlier this year.
The relay has prizes for highest money-raising teams and this year Team Marco’s Family and Friends, a perennial award winner, again clinched the prize. Team Marco’s Family and Friends raised more than $20,000.
Horsham Primary School, also a consistent high achiever in the event, raised almost $7000 and was again the event’s highest moneyraising school.
Committee chair-manager Kingsley Dalgleish praised all teams for their efforts and confirmed the winning teams had won Cancer Council Victoria Research Awards.
He said the teams had qualified for the awards by raising more than $5000 each and could nominate a field of cancer research on which to spend the money.
“Obviously the relay didn’t go ahead this year after we got notification on the morning of the event. But teams could still bank money for another month afterwards,” he said.
This year’s Horsham and District Relay for Life had included 24 teams and usually involves about 700 people.
The annual event revolves around team members walking a circuit and taking turns, or relaying, to maintain a walking vigil to continually raise money for efforts to combat cancer.
Relay for Life started in 2001, has rarely missed going ahead and has been at various venues including Coughlin Park, Horsham College Community Oval and Dock Lake Reserve.
Mr Dalgleish again thanked all businesses, volunteers and participants involved with the group and its efforts.
“Plans for a 2021 relay remain undetermined at this stage but we’re looking at a lot of different options,” he said.
Horsham and District Relay for Life committee members are delivering thank-you certificates, personal messages and hand-made purple
flowers to the 110 businesses that have been part of the event for the past five years.
They are also encouraging people across the region to take part in a Paint the Town Purple promotion during October.
Mr Dalgleish urged people keen to get involved to email horshamrfl@ cancervic.org.au or make contact via Facebook.