Cancer Society hoping for third time lucky with Relay for Life

In March this year Lytton High School staged their own event for the 2023 Relay for Life, renamed Relay Your Way. They joined other organisations in the challenge to run fundraising events after Cyclone Gabrielle put paid to plans to finally bring back the 24-hour relay after two years of disruption due to Covid-19. Fingers are crossed at the Gisborne East Coast Cancer Society that next year’s Relay for Life, down for March 9 and 10, will go ahead. Picture by Liam Clayton

It’s time to try again.

After the disruptions of Covid-19 and cyclones, Relay for Life returns next year, to the A&P  Showgrounds, and over the full 24 hours.

Relay For Life Te Ara Toiora will be earlier in March than in previous years, on March 9 and 10, from noon on Saturday to noon on Sunday.

The location is still at the Showgrounds, but the site has moved to the front trade area known as Poynters Park.

“This is an awesome opportunity for the community to come together to support people who have or have had cancer and those who care for them,” said Gisborne East Coast Cancer Society fundraising and events coordinator Shay Podjursky. She is hoping 2024 will  be a case of third time lucky.

She has her fingers crossed.

Usual features such as the Celebration Lap, which starts the event, the trackside candle bag tribute ceremony and the Sunday morning cooked breakfast, and various prizes are all back while compere Walter the Wiz has “an insanely good line-up” of entertainers.

The Cancer Society is holding an open night next week at their headquarters in Gladstone Road, for people wanting to find out more about the Relay for Life.

Registration forms will be available there, at 718 Gladstone Road, Tuesday December 12, 5pm-6pm.

“Pop in and have a chat with the team,” said Ms Podjursky.