One track, one purpose, 25 hours.
About 1500 people, among them cancer survivors and carers, flocked to Wyndham Vale Recreation Reserve at the weekend to take part in the annual Relay for Life, raising more than $215,321 in the process.
Usually a 24-hour event, walkers had the added challenge of walking an extra hour when daylight savings ended at 3am on Sunday and the clock was turned back an hour.
Many of the 101 teams to take part dedicated their relay to family members or friends who had battled and lost, or survived, cancer.
About 13 staff from Star Weekly’s Werribee, Keilor Park and Melton editorial and advertising departments, plus family and friends, took part in the relay, which started at noon on Saturday and finished at noon Sunday.
The Star Weekly team raised more than $5150, with a recent Bunnings barbecue at Hoppers Crossing bringing in more than $2800.
But it was the Happy Feet team that took out the honour of being the biggest fundraisers, donating more than $18,500 to the Cancer Council.
Wyndham Relay for Life chairperson Brendon Andrew said seeing the community come together was “unbelievable”.
“We all come to relay for different reasons but at the end of the relay we all look back at the past 25 hours and have the knowledge that with the money we have raised we are a step closer to ridding the world of cancer,” Mr Andrew said.
