No Relay for Life in town this year
Waipukurau’s Joy Eagle, a cancer survivor, has attended Relay for Life for the past eight years.
This year would have been her ninth, but the event was cancelled after low numbers of entries made it not viable.
For Joy, cancellation of the Hawke’s Bay event is deeply disappointing.
“I attended the relay to prove I was a survivor. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010. I attended every year since, with my husband.”
Her disappointment also arises from missing out on the camaraderie.
“I forged friendships with fellow survivors. We would just turn up and do the walk for survivors.
“I am disappointed because you don’t meet many people otherwise.
“When I first went through it I didn’t even realise how many people go through cancer. But now I have been through it I know heaps.”
The event was to have been the 15th year of Relay for Life in Hawke’s Bay and it was cancelled due to low team registrations and fundraising to date.
However, the Cancer Society’s Hawke’s Bay centre has not taken the cancellation lightly.
Manager Trudy Kirk said the move had been heart-wrenching for the society’s team.
“We know how important the event is for many in our community, in particular our cancer survivors, who open Relay for Life by walking the first lap on the track, called the Lap of Honour.
“Also those teams that enter because they have someone in their team who has either lost a loved one or knows someone going through cancer treatment.
“Relay for Life means a lot to the Cancer Society Hawke’s Bay team and we will find a way forward for the event in the future.”
She said that there were other Relay for Life events interested people could attend.
“There are Relay For Life events happening in Gisborne, Palmerston North and Whanganui in March and those who wish to attend relays in any of those areas next month will be made very welcome.”