Whanganui's Relay for Life exceeds its 2021 fundraising target

Tracey Thomas walked 18 hours in the Cancer Society's Relay for Life with her arm in a cast. Photo / Lewis Gardner

It was hot at the start, and cold and lonely in the middle of the night, but Tracey Thomas only stopped walking for toilet breaks and to get a blister dressed during this year's Whanganui Relay for Life.

Whanganui Mayor Hamish McDouall and Whanganui MP Steph Lewis open the relay. Photo / Lewis Gardner

The annual Cancer Society fundraising event began at 4pm on Saturday, opened by Whanganui mayor Hamish McDouall and Whanganui MP Steph Lewis. It was very hot at the Cooks Gardens venue as cancer survivors did the first lap.

The Relay for Life began with a lap around Cooks Gardens for cancer survivors. Photo / Lewis Gardner

When it finished at 10am on Sunday Thomas was tired and sore - but still walking.

She has been a cancer sufferer herself, and said the fundraising relay was a great cause.

"The Cancer Society have been an amazing support for me and for friends and family as well."

The worst time in her 18 hours of walking round and round the track was the middle of the night.

"It was absolutely freezing, and there was hardly anyone on the track. It seemed to take forever for the light to come," she said.

Most of the time Thomas had plenty of people to talk to, and two members of her Te Oranganui team in support.

"They're all amazed that I'm crazy enough to do the whole 18 hours."

Thomas aimed to raise $5000, and was at $3000 as her walk drew to a close.

A team of midwives and their supporters raised $6000. Photo / Lewis Gardner

The top fundraising team was The Young and the Breathless, a team of 21 midwives, a nurse and their family members. They raised $6000.

Team captain Sue O'Connell said their name seemed appropriate for the age range among the midwives and their sometimes breathless occupation.

Two of the team were in the delivery suite at Whanganui Hospital and unable to do the relay. The team supplemented sponsorship by selling waffles and honey, having a white elephant stall at the Whanganui River Markets and knitting tea cosies.

"We have all been touched by people with cancer, and [the cause] is quite important for women, with breast cancer. A few members have been touched with it, and one passed away."

Team member Samuel Martin was in his 13th Relay for Life in a row.

Young midwivers Kayla Tyson-Tahana (left) and Louise Andrews said the relay was good fun. Photo / Lewis Gardner

The relay had been good fun, team members said.

"The team captain was awesome at organising everybody and driving it."

The teams from Whanganui Collegiate School were also top fundraisers, Cancer Society events co-ordinator Alison Hollard said. The school put up 12 teams, one for each house, and together they raised $25,000.

Cooks Gardens was studded with team tents for the Relay for Life. Photo / Lewis Gardner

The society's target this year was $75,000, and the event's 350 walkers in 35 teams have already exceeded that. By Sunday there was already $82,895 raised on its online platform, whanganui.relayforlife.org.nz.

The relay event had been lucky this year, with Covid-19 alert levels dropping and fine weather, Hollard said.

"We are over the moon."