Helpers relay a message of hope

FORMER Berwick resident Casey Cardinia Relay for Life (CCRL) cochair manager Natalie Livsay travels from her new home at Port Melbourne to work with cochair manager Deborah Ditchburn of Pakenham for the 2007 relay.
Another worker, CCRL facilities coordinator Scott Phillips of Boronia, has connections with eight Relay for Life groups and travels to work with the Casey Cardinia group.
This is the type of dedication you see driving this growing and exciting fundraising event. The Cancer Council relay is exciting, sad, emotional, fun, picturesque, at times eerie with paper bag candles around the relay oval, entertaining and successful. CCRL has raised $100,000 for cancer research from its first three events and aims to raise $100,000 at its fourth to be held during the first weekend in March next year.
My view is that they can reach their target as more and more people become involved purely because of what it stands for.
Speakers at the relay launch held at the Let’s Unwine liquor store in High Street, Berwick, on Monday night spoke of their feelings about cancer and it would have been difficult not to be seriously moved by what was heard.
I was slow to pick up on the Relay for Life concept, but having seen it work and seen the enormous benefits that can come from the money the volunteer workers raise I ask everyone to help.
Even if it is only buying a raffle ticket or giving a dollar or so to a relay runner. Alternatively, you could organise a relay team and make lots of money for the cause while having fun.
People run in the memory of someone dear whom they have lost and others run to help ensure a way to save lives.
This is because every dollar raised could be the dollar that helps a scientist find another key to the mystery of the dreaded disease. Think of life without cancer and relay for life.
The runners say that no one chooses cancer, but they choose to run.
Further details about the relay are available from Deborah Ditchburn on 04 1285 0257 or Natalie Livsay 04 3854 8739.