Pulling the 2012 Sutherland Relay for life together felt a bit like The Blues Brothers getting the band together, orb maybe Groundhog Day.
It seems that every supplier, sponsor, team captain or committee member was both enthusiastic and aware of what was needed to pull off the big weekend in May.
It constantly amazes me to feel the positive and selfless attitude in all the people that make this community event both a feel good and an unforgettable experience.
Year after year we celebrate with our survivors as they do their lap to start the event.
We remember those loved ones we have lost at the Candlelight Ceremony starting 6.15pm, and we fight back against our enemy: cancer.
We raised $654,000 last year and had about 6000 people join in. Every cent raised by our 50-strong local volunteer committee goes to the Cancer CouncilNSW.
We take an amazing journey together over the non-stop 24 hours, during which people, either in teams of about 10 to 12 or family groups as well as individuals, get caught up in the feel and do a few laps. If you are organised, the aim is for someone from your team to be on the track throughout the 24 hours. Many teams pass on the team baton which can be anything from a funny hat to a T-shirt with a loved one’s photo printed on it.
The bands, dancers and performers have been booked.
Cafes have been positioned, the food vendors have been enlisted.
All the kids’ activities are ready and all the campsites, for those many who are staying, are being allocated.
All the survivors, including anyone reading this, are invited.
All the bits and pieces such as the clock, the ribbon, the starting gun, the cherry picker, the 300 witches hats, the 50 metres of crowd barriers, the 75 tables, and the hundreds of chairs, the hundreds of square metres of tent space are in place. We have an amazing local committee who have worked for many months to pull it off again. So if you have heard about or seen the signs for the Sutherland Relay For Life, but have not had a chance to get down to the Sylvania track in the first weekend in May each year, I urge you to call in as everyone is welcome.
Who knows, you may register yourself or your family and share in a true community experience. It might be one of the best things you ever do
