Michael Farmer 
The crisp, clean, still Saturday morning of Riley Oval at the University of Western Australia will explode with a hive of activity and merriment. Sofas will be brought in. Tents will be put up. Sleeping bags will be rolled out.
Teams will get together for final rah-rahs – all in readiness for the biggest happening on the university’s calendar of events. The 2024 Cancer Council UWA Relay for Life.
24 hours of colour and excitement. Fun and fundraising for cancer care, respite and research. Over 40 teams and up to 500 participants running against each other, walking with each other – helping those fighting the deadly disease and celebrating those who have beaten it.
It all bursts into life at 10am this Saturday, 5th October and relay chairperson Casey Taylor is champing at the bit to get it all started.
It begins with the survivors and carers lap, followed by morning tea for them and their families – while the participants embark on their quest to raise over $100,000. All whilst fun and festivities are enjoyed, says Casey.
These include solo singers from 10.30, a petting zoo 1-3pm, followed by a variety of performances from some amazing local bands.
Our candlelight ceremony to support those currently fighting cancer and honour the people we have lost to the disease will be held at 7pm, followed by our silent hour where there will also be a memory wall. From 8pm, all can boogie to our silent disco.
“On Sunday morning, there’ll be a free breakfast for all participants and yoga. And throughout the weekend, we’ll have various pop-up stalls running with heaps of activities for all ages and abilities to keep [everyone] entertained,” Casey says.
Cancer can and does affect anyone at any time. Even as you read this someone in your college, your degree, your unit is affected or has been – either personally or with someone in their family.
Casey herself has experienced cancer. “In my childhood, quite a few relatives on my dad’s side passed away from the disease and in high school, one of my closest friends was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. She thankfully is now in remission,” she says.
Her dad's cousin passed away from breast cancer after battling it for many years leaving behind a young family. She had been an ambassador for breast cancer after her mother passed away from the cancer.
“She now has a Roy Hill mining truck named in her honour which is pretty cool,” Casey says. “It’s great to see such big companies getting behind cancer awareness initiatives.”
It is projected that new cancer cases in Australia will increase to over 150,000 people and the mortality number is estimated to be 53,000. It is however also anticipated that the 5-year survival rate will also increase to 71%. Which makes our fundraising efforts so vital and necessary.
This year, the committee has worked on getting more local businesses and community members involved in the event. Casey hopes this weekend also inspires them to get involved with more local fundraisers through the Cancer Council’s various initiatives and raise awareness on how profound the impacts these events have on the lives of others.
When all is said and done – the tents taken down, the sofas taken away, the sleeping bags rolled up and stillness of Riley Oval returned; Casey and her relay team have another hope.
They all have left with the knowledge that the 2024 Cancer Council UWA Relay for Life was a damn good fight against cancer as well as an equally damn good celebration of lives saved and lived.
PS: There is still time to register, as either an individual or team, for the event via this link: https://www.relayforlife.org.au/event/uwa-2024/home
