North Shore Times (New Zealand)
School gears up for relay
Personal experiences of cancer have inspired students at one North Shore school to take part in this year’s Relay for Life.
Students of Murrays Bay Intermediate had joined seven of their teachers to take turns walking, jogging or running around the track at AUT Millennium to raise money for Cancer Society.
Erin Loader, the teacher leading the team, said the annual event to celebrate cancer survivors and remember loved ones had struck a chord with both teachers and students.
‘‘We want to demonstrate to the students the importance of being positive citizens and making a contribution to the community.’’
One of those students was Ben McCardle, whose family had lived with cancer for eight years before his mother, Amanda, and grandfather, Graeme, passed away in 2015.
Remembering his mother and grandfather were what had inspired him to take part for the past five years.
Ben was joined by Zoe Crawford, whose grandmother Jill survived breast cancer, and Riley Sheldon, whose uncle Peter had also experienced cancer.
Loader said the team was determined to ensure one team member would be on the track at all times.
‘‘Cancer patients don’t stop because they’re tired, and neither will we.’’
Rangitoto College and Glenfield College were also taking part in Relay for Life, which will take place on March 10 and 11.
‘‘Cancer patients don't stop because they're tired, and neither will we’’
Erin Loader