800 get walking in Relay for Life

What has been called the best ever Relay for Life event was held in Masterton over the weekend, complete with dress-ups and lots of fun.

Chairwoman Adrienne Staples said about $120,000 was raised for the Wairarapa Cancer Society through the event.

Mrs Staples said there were about 800 competitors in this year's event, which is the same as the last time the relay was held.

She said people went to a great effort to dress up, including Superwomen and -men and a team of ducks, although most people wore face paint or wigs as well.

Mrs Staples, who is mayor of South Wairarapa, participated with the council team.

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"We were all dressed up like a circus, so we had lots of fun," she said.

"It was a fantastic event. I reckon the best ever," Mrs Staples said.

The relay is held at the Queen Elizabeth Park oval, and the route comes out onto the footpath.

One of the main differences to this year's event was the addition of a giant screen on the the footpath part of the track, linking people to what was happening at the centre of the set-up.

"You sort of felt connected the whole time," said Mrs Staples.

She said it was an important cause and was pleased with the amount raised.

"It's a cause that affects probably everyone of us one way or another," she said. "I'd doubt very much if there was a person who isn't affected by cancer in some way or another."

She said it the event was also perfect for "young, old and anyone in between" and was important because the society isn't government funded.

"It's a disease that can strike anybody and the Cancer Society needs our support to be able to support the ill and their families."