By Jessica Anstice
A remarkable $267,088 was raised at Casey’s Relay for Life on the weekend.
The official relay opening started at 6pm on Friday at Akoonah Park in Berwick, a whopping 67 teams walked for 24 hours to raise significant funds for Cancer Council.
Event organiser Donna Hamilton spoke about hope at the official relay opening ceremony.
Ms Hamilton said the relay represents inspiration.
“We had lots of laughs, lots of tears and a lot of fun. But there was also a lot of hope,” she said.
“There is a lot to be said about hope and even more to be said about those who display it and those who wear it with courage and dignity.
“Hope is when you hear those dreaded words ‘you have cancer’ and you still push forward.”
She said, “Hope is being in the middle of a terrible diagnosis or caring for those loved ones and still having the ability to smile.
“And it’s knowing your illness may be chronic but still finding a way to live and love life to the absolute fullest. Never ever give up hope.”
Casey Relay for Life hit over $4m in fundraising last year and after this year, they are well on their way to $5m.
“It’s an incredible amount of money and we’re hoping to crack $5m in 2020,” Ms Hamilton said.
“Yet again, we’re the first event ever to hit that amount of money raised for cancer research in such a short amount of time.”
During her opening speech, Ms Hamilton thanked the Casey Relay for Life volunteer committee for their efforts this year.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the committee, they all put in 110 percent to get this event up and running,” she said.
“It’s a very big job so well done to them for all their hard work over the last 12 months, they’re incredible.”
The Survivor and Carers Supper guest speaker was one of Australia’s leading presenters, writers and educators in the areas of health, high performance, resilience, self-management, leadership, corporate change, communications, stress management and personal transformation.
Speaker Craig Harper has been an integral part of the Australian health and fitness industry since 1982.
He spoke about the 10 things his cancer survivor mother taught him on her journey without actually telling him anything.
There are still four weeks left to donate to the Casey Relay for Life. To contribute, visit https://secure.fundraising.cancer.org.au/site/TR/RelayforLife/CCVIC?pg=entry&fr_id=5684
