Relay co-ordinator Judi Buhagiar, left, presents 2009 Relay for Life shirts to Pembroke committee members, teacher Robyn Johnston and events student Emily Slaney. 34951
By Kath Gannaway
RELAY for Life will again see hundreds of Yarra Ranges residents and friends putting their best foot forward to support, remember and raise money for those affected by cancer.
The event will be held for the third time at Mt Evelyn.
Team members will take turns to walk around the reserve, keeping the team baton moving, in the 18-hour event that goes through the night.
Yarra Ranges Relay For Life Co-ordinator Judi Buhagiar said the community event was a chance for local residents to celebrate cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost and fight back against cancer.
The Yarra Ranges community has produced fantastic events in the past with 2,700 local participants,” she said.
“The 2009 Relay for Life event will be no different, and as we do each year, we will honour all locals who have ever experienced cancer.”
Welcoming Pembroke Secondary College on board last week, Ms Buhagiar urged other schools, community members and groups to get involved.
She said the event was a community focused event and it was important for local people to have a say in how it was run.
“We’re looking for people who have a variety of skills to make this event a success, including administration, logistics, publicity and catering,” she said.
Pembroke teacher Robyn Johnston said the school was looking forward to being involved. “We have a leadership class at the school and do event management as part of that, but the school also has a strong commitment to our local community and we see being involved as important to our students and to the school.
“Of course, another reason is that we are all touched by cancer,” she said.
Ms Johnston said the students had decided just last week to play an even more active role by putting in a team.
The Yarra Ranges Relay for Life will be on 7 and 8 November at Morrison Reserve, Mt Evelyn.
For more information or to register a team, visit www.relayforlife.org.au or email yarraranges@relayforlife.org.au .
