By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
THE CASEY Relay For Life raised the most money out of all the Victorian relay events for the third time in a row, according to statistics released by the Cancer Council in their 2015 annual review.
The Casey relay raised a whopping $412,213 at its 2015 event, with the Wyndham event coming in second with $312,682, according to statistics released by the Cancer Council in their annual review.
All up $5.2 million was raised by 37,393 people across 66 Relay for Life events in the state.
Co-Chair Karen Rycken said if all things go to plan at next month’s 2016 event, the Casey Relay For Life would have raised $3 million since its inception in 2004.
“We started with this particular committee about four or five years ago, we had just started as a , and we decided we wanted to be number one and raise the most,” she said.
“Last year was our third year in a row at the top.
“We also plan to join the 3 million dollar club after this year’s event.”
Last year’s Casey event saw more than 4000 people take part in the 24-hour relay, with all participants touched by cancer in some way.
A similar number of participants is expected next month.
“It’s extremely personal,” Ms Rycken said.
“Each team relays for a separate reason, and the Cancer Council really need money for support and more important research.
“We’re well and truly supported by the community, as well as school-based teams.”
The 2016 Casey Relay For Life will start on Friday 4 March at 5.45pm, and will be held at Akoonah Park in Berwick.
For more information, visit casey@relayforlife.org.au.
