Welcome to "Histeria" Lane and its resident desperate housewives. Rotorua's version of television's Desperate Housewives that is.
Having spent Saturday morning setting up a camp site that included a white picket fence, pot plants and a miniature Wisteria Lane they named Histeria Lane, team Desperate Housewives settled into
the Cancer Society's Relay for Life at the Rotorua International Stadium for the long haul.
The 13 members of the Desperate Housewives all work at Rotorua Girls' High School, 11 of them in the administration department and two teachers.
Team captain Deb Rolls said this was their second time at the event and they had raised almost $2000 for the Cancer Society.
"We're not really that desperate, it was just a good idea for a theme as we are all girls. Apart from raising some money we get a weekend together and have a bit of fun," she said.
But there is a serious side to their team. All of the team members have lost a family member to cancer over the years.
Desperate housewife Tina Sutherland said cancer runs in both sides of her family.
"I've had lots of uncles and aunts, close relatives and friends fall to cancer, it's part of our lives," she said.
More than 1000 people in 70 teams took part in the Relay for Life on the weekend transforming the pitch into a colourful tent city with a carnival atmosphere.
The 20-hour overnight event kicked off at 2pm on Saturday with a cancer survivors' lap of honour and the action didn't stop until 10am yesterday morning.
Entertainer Russell Harrison serenaded the crowds of walkers, Brazilian drummers lead the teams around the track for a few laps and local performers kept the relay walkers in high spirits all day and night. Waikato/Bay of Plenty Cancer Society representative and event manager Melanie East said the fun day did have a serious message and the money raised went to important services such as the Lion Cancer Lodge in Hamilton.
"The lodge in Hamilton is a place Rotorua people can use when receiving treatment. The money will also go to things like increasing awareness and educational campaigns." Mrs East estimated $113,000 was raised at the event.
"It looked like the sevens in Hong Kong, I was thrilled with the effort the teams put in and the costumes they wore, now I can get some sleep," she said.
* See Sports Extra on p13 for more photos.
