Relay For Life 2024

Gisborne Relay For Life organisers (from left) Shay Podjursky, Alice Kibble, Walter “The Wiz” Walsh, Pam Murphy and Trevor Baty cannot wait for the Gisborne-East Coast Cancer Society fundraising event on March 9 and 10 in the Poynters Park section of Showgrounds Park.Picture by Liam Clayton

A fun family day but with an important dual purpose.

That is the new-look Relay For Life Gisborne, a fun and respectful way of commemorating loved ones who have been lost to cancer while financially supporting the Cancer Society.

Gisborne East Coast Cancer Society is staging this year’s Relay For Life on March 9 and 10 at Showgrounds Park.

Relay for Life organising committee member Alice Kibble said: “Although I have been a part of many Relay For Life events, this year’s is particularly important to me as my family has been closely affected by cancer in the last couple of years.

“This event is an opportunity to come together and show unity and manaakitanga for all of those effected by cancer.”

Relay For Life will not be held at the traditional main ring location but in the front trade area known as Poynters Park.

Fellow organising committee member Shay Podjursky said the new site was fit-for-purpose.

“It has everything we need.”

She said it was good to be holding Relay For Life again after the disruptions and issues of the last few years.

About 80 percent of tent sites have been booked by relay teams.

“Six teams have got more than 15 people in them. An Ūawa team have more than 100 people visiting across the weekend.”

Shay said it was exciting to be able to confirm that electronic lap-scoring would enable tracking of all teams.

“This means we can track how many laps teams do, fastest times, and a whole range of other interesting things.”

The lap-scoring will assist with some of the prizes awarded.

The 24-hour (midday to midday) Relay For Life will be officially opened by Archbishop Don Tamihere of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, followed by a celebration lap featuring cancer survivors and their carers.

Another special moment — Light Up The Night — will be staged at 9pm to remember and honour those who have passed.

Candle bags are for sale at $5 at the Cancer Society centre at 718 Gladstone Road, or at the Property Brokers marquee on the day.

The candle bags, with LED candles, are sited outside the team tents and provide for an emotionally moving sight.

There will be a collection of food and drink  ((non-alcoholic) vendors selling on site over the duration of the event.

Organisers have arranged 24-hour security at Poynters Park and for public car parking in the adjoining Gisborne Riding for the Disabled grounds.

Walter “the Wiz” Walsh is once again putting together an eclectic range of entertaining music including jazz, blues, Latin American and Māori.

“There’s something for everybody,” Shay said.

The Cancer Society, which hopes to raise $150,000, is “creeping up on the $50,000 mark”.

Relay for Life and Daffodil Day are the key fundraisers for the Cancer Society which play a vital role in society.

In 2021, there were 27,869 new cancer registrations in New Zealand, according to Health NZ/Te Whatu Ora.

Shay expressed her thanks to all Relay For Life sponsors and said more sponsors (cash or goods) would be warmly welcomed.

She also thanked the Poverty Bay A&P Association and all volunteers.

A compulsory team meeting is to be held on Wednesday, February 28, at 5.30pm at a venue yet to be confirmed.

Teams will be contacted by phone and email.

February 28 is also the deadline for team entries.

Anyone wishing to support this worthy cause, but is not in a team, can make a koha at the gate and walk the track.

The Showgrounds Park gates will close to visitors at 10pm on Saturday and reopen at 9am on Sunday.