Relay for Life ‘awe-inspiring’

Life is celebrated and remembered on the banks of the Manawatū River for Relay for Life. Visual journalist Adele Rycroft was there.

Thousands of people have taken turns making their way around a track in Palmerston North, many throughout the night, in a gesture of celebration and remembrance.

Manawatū Relay for Life had raised more than $311,000 this year in the lead-up to the event, held over 24 hours from noon on Saturday.

More donations were still to be counted, and chairperson Richard Anderson reckoned they would get close to their target of $400,000. But the event team was “very pleased” with the preliminary figure, regardless of final tally raised for the Cancer Society.

“Just the support from the community, and the people on the track, and seeing the young families engaged and involved in it, it was awe-inspiring, it was just ‘wow’,” Anderson said.

With 104 teams signing up in 2024, Anderson estimated 3000 to 4000 people had turned up to the Hokowhitu Riverside Walkway, which was an increase in numbers from the last few editions, he said.

“This is about the community saying ‘we want this event, we want to celebrate, we want to remember’, so we do it for the community, we run it and hold it for the community,” he said.

“The purpose of the weekend is not actually to raise money, all the fundraising’s been done prior to this.

“This is about remembering and celebrating, and just people being part of it and telling their stories.”

A candlelight ceremony, where candles were placed around the track inside bags that were decorated by families remembering loved ones affected by cancer, was “extremely touching”, Anderson said.

Many people dressed up for their relays, and many people who hadn’t put their hand up came down anyway to support and walk with the teams, Anderson said.

“At 2 o'clock in the morning, just the number of people on the track, and the music and everything going, it’s an unbelievable event.”

ADELE RYCROFT/STUFF Cancer survivor Jo Schlierike, centre, cuts the ribbon to open Manawatū Relay for Life 2024 on Saturday.

Kylie Bremner, walking with Fonterra on Saturday, had cancer three times before turning 40. Red sashes are worn by people who have cancer or have had cancer.

Liz Lynn, 70, Brandon McHardy and Tahlia McHardy, 2, show their support. Liz has beaten cancer a few times and has been attending the Relay for Life for 18 years.

Many team dressed up in a show of support.

Palmerston North town crier Lyal Brenton.

Members of the Fulton Hogan team dressed as road cones.

Milly Southee, 22 months, enjoys an ice cream during the relay.