Passing fundraiser baton to spring

Horsham and District Relay For Life is returning to its origins as an October event this year, as organisers seek to give participating teams more time to register and raise money for cancer research.

The event was originally scheduled for March 17 and 18, however, has been rescheduled to October 20 and 21.

Horsham and District Relay For Life chair Kingsley Dalgleish said while traditionally, teams lodged registrations ‘at the last moment’, team numbers were significantly down this year.

“It’s always a challenge in March — being straight after Christmas and New Year — so registrations have been slow historically,” he said.

“There was also some uncertainty this year if the event would go ahead after the past two years away, due to COVID-19 and restrictions.

“Interestingly, when Relay For Life was first done in Horsham, it was an October event.”

Mr Dalgleish said teams could put the event at the forefront of their minds when it was scheduled later in the year.

“This will give teams more time for fundraising and being away from Christmas and New Year, it will mean it won’t be put on the back burner,” he said.

“It is also away from the wetter months of the year and from the Horsham Fishing Competition, the Wimmera Machinery Field Days and Good Friday Appeal.

“There also won’t be any tennis or cricket finals and the cricketers don’t tend to use the turf wicket at Coughlin Park, where we host the event, until November.”

Relay For Life raises money for the Cancer Council’s research, prevention, information, and support services.

An average of 142 people are diagnosed with cancer in Horsham each year alone, with 155 cases diagnosed in 2020. On average, more than 134,000 people participate in Relay

For Life events nationally, raising about $14-million a year.

Mr Dalgleish said despite ‘most things in life’ coming to a halt during 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19, cancer did not stop.

“We all know someone who has been impacted by cancer and unfortunately, ‘you have cancer’ is news heard too often by people,” he said.

“We want to reduce the number of people who hear that and I think as a community, we respond to the call to help where we can.

“People in our community support Relay For Life, Wimmera Cancer Centre and Wimmera Against Cancer in Kids, WACK.

“The event is a chance to support research and treatment, and also to promote prevention and respite services.”

Mr Dalgleish said although the relay was scheduled for October now, the committee was organising a raffle to help teams fundraise soon.

“People who registered for March will automatically be registered for October and we will be running a raffle in April for teams already registered and who register soon,” he said.

“Teams will be able to sell tickets for prizes donated by local businesses and the money raised will go towards their final fundraising tally.

“We will be in touch with teams to let them know how they can get involved.”