All set for Relay for Life
Adrienne Ward puts on her walking gear once a year to take part in the annual Relay for Life.
It’s a useful way to help the society as she’s not in a financial position to regularly donate.
‘‘This way I can help make other people aware of the work the Cancer Society does,’’ she says.
The event is on March 15 and 16 at Trust Arena in Henderson and the Cancer Society is looking for team captains to rally their friends and family together for the event.
Cancer is an illness close to Mrs Ward, 44. When she was 17 her mother Lorraine lost her battle with liver and bowel cancer. A friend has also recently battled breast cancer.
So she’s getting a team of family and colleagues together for the second year to compete in the relay.
The team, called Friends for Life, has been raising money through bake sales and donations on its online site. Last year it raised $2500 and members hope to raise more this year.
Cancer Society Auckland’s chief executive John Loof says 60 families every day are faced with a cancer diagnosis and the relay is a time for the community to acknowledge the impact of cancer.
‘‘Sixty new cancer diagnoses is far too many and we feel more can be done to reduce the number and support families,’’ he says.
Funds raised provide supportive care and information for people going through cancer and research into more effective treatments as well as community pre- vention campaigns.
The relay sees at least one team member stay on the Douglas Track and Field at all times, passing a baton from one member to another throughout the entire 48-hour event.
Participants can either camp overnight and stay for the whole event or just do a few laps.
The event begins at 4pm on March 15 with a Survivors Lap of Honour.