Last month's Relay For Life in Whangarei raised more than $100,000 for cancer support in Northland.
Despite the prospect of the remnants of tropical Cyclone Lusi wreaking havoc on the event, more than 1300 people attended the start of the ninth annual Relay for Life at the ASB Sports Arenaathletics track at Kensington on March 15.
Northland Cancer Society manager Margaret Curry said people were smiling, dancing and walking in "appalling" squally showers, which started when teams led by cancer survivors got on the track at noon. She was surprised by how many had turned up for the relay, with Cyclone Lusi hammering the North with high winds and big seas.
"We had 52 teams registered this year compared with 700 people in 46 teams last year, but some teams pulled out on Saturday because of the weather," she said.
The event raised more than $100,000 for the Cancer Society Northland.
Leann Smedley, Cancer Society Northland fundraising events co-ordinator said the money raised was an amazing amount and testament to the community spirit of Northlanders.
"I think the people of Northland have a huge community spirit to come out when Cyclone Lusi was here and raising that amount - it's just amazing," Ms Smedley said.
"Relay for Life is predominantly run by a volunteer committee and they do a great job."
The relay's focus was on helping people with cancer and most of the money raised in Northland would be spent on support work in the region where about 1000 people annually are diagnosed with cancer.
