Relay for Life 2013

Around the track at Frank Kitt’s Park with cancer survivors and caregivers

Relay for Life is an amazing event, with an incredibly loving, giving, and celebratory atmosphere. We were really honoured to have been asked to take part, and to lead the cancer survivors and their caregivers around the track for the first lap of the 24-hour relay.

From the Relay for Life website:

Relay For Life is an inspiring community event that gives everyone a chance to celebrate cancer survivors and caregivers; remember loved ones lost to cancer; and fight back by raising awareness and funds to support the work of the Cancer Society. Relay For Life is for people of all ages and fitness levels. Anyone can take part!

Team members walk and jog through the night, symbolising the fact that cancer never sleeps. However, people taking part may come and go as they like.

We began by doing a couple of our pieces adjacent to the amphitheatre where everyone had been gathered for the welcoming speeches, and gradually, as we played, the cancer survivors and their caregivers, friends and families – many dressed in colourful matching T-shirts – lined up to begin the relay.

At the signal from the organisers we set off around the relay track, which went around Frank Kitt’s and along the roadside next to the park. It was a wonderful carnival atmosphere, with everyone following along behind us. Once we’d completed the first circuit, we stepped aside off the track to let the participants continue past at their own speed, and then we carried on playing for a while to accompany them on their journey.

A lovely afternoon and a very good cause indeed.