By Eleanor Wilson
Akoonah Park will be transformed into a sea of purple this weekend as Casey Relay for Life holds its first fundraiser in three years.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the event in Casey, which has raised over $4.5 million for cancer research through the 24-hour relay event.
This year, the organising committee has set a fundraising goal of $200,000 for the Cancer Council.
Casey Relay For Life spokesperson Daniel Gargaro said the organisers are excited to see the relay back at Akoonah Park.
“It’s obviously been a difficult few years with Covid and everything and a lot of events were cancelled,” Mr Gargaro said.
“The committee tried to get the event up and running in virtual form first and tried last year to make it happen as a physical event, but the dates didn’t line up,” he said.
The event sees participants camp out overnight at Akoonah Park, while members of each team alternate completing the relay throughout the 24-hour period.
“You don’t have to stay on the track all night, but we encourage teams to have at least one person on the track at all times to get the most out of your relay experience,” Mr Gargaro said.
This year the Casey relay has been stripped back to 18 hours to make for an easier return to the fundraiser.
Ahead of the event, Casey Relay For Life has raised more than $70,000 for the Cancer Council and has 424 relayers and 32 teams enrolled to take on the relay this weekend.
Mr Gargaro said community members can also sign up to the event on the day and encouraged post-event donations.
The relay will kick off with an opening ceremony at 6pm and will include a candlelight ceremony to recognise community members who have passed away from cancer, a survivors and carers walk, and a closing ceremony on the Saturday.
Entertainment, kids activities, food trucks and live music and a free breakfast will also be available to enjoy.
This year’s event is a sentimental one for long-standing organising committee chair and cancer survivor Donna Harrison, who will pass on the leadership baton to a new committee member for next year’s relay.
“Its been an inspirational journey, as a cancer survivor myself, to take the stage and lead the team and put on these events over the last eight years as a chair, and 15 years at the event altogether, its incredible. it’s an absolute honour,” she said.
Mrs Harrison said she was only given 24 hours to live when she was diagnosed with cancer and has “fought back extremely hard” to be where she is today.
“It’s been a very proud moment in my life and to watch the Casey Relay grow from 2004 when they had about 12 teams and we grew it up to 130 teams at our 10 year anniversary and to fight our way throughout Covid where a lot of events have closed down… it’s a big moment for Casey Relay on Friday and it’s great to have the support of the community. ”
“It’s definitely been a pleasure and it’s with a sad heart that I stand down, but I think you have to have a changing of the guards at some stage.
The organising committee are all volunteers who have worked “extremely hard” to get the event up and running again Mr Gargaro said.
The 2023 Casey Relay For Life will commence at Akoonah Park on Friday 3 March at 6pm and will conclude at 12pm on Saturday 4 March.
To sign up or to donate, head to relayforlife.org.au/event/casey-2023/home
