THE 441 people who took turns circling the Pakenham oval on Friday night and Saturday morning were united for a common cause, but each had their own reasons for being there.
Some of the inaugural Cardinia Relay for Life participants had survived cancer, some had lost loved ones.
Others, like Pink Ladies team member Julia Battiscombe, wanted to do their bit to strike a blow against the dreaded disease.
Ms Battiscombe explained that the colourful Pink Ladies, named best-dressed team, had a few people who had lost family members to cancer, but her motivation was a little different.
“When you have kids it makes you want to do something to help prevent this disease,” she said. “We don’t want our kids dying of cancer.”
For others, like the Chicken Run team, it was an emotional journey with every stride to remember a daughter taken too soon. Brooke Collins died in January of this year from a brain tumour, and her friends organised a team in her name.
“What more could you ask for from any group of friends,” her father Adam Collins said.
The Going for Gus team walked to support their mate who is battling the final stages of cancer.
He told the team he was “honoured” they were walking on his behalf.
The event raised $42,600, which Cancer Council representative Gemma Rix described as a fantastic effort in the inaugural year.
Ms Rix said the money would be channelled into the likes of research, prevention campaigns and advocacy work.
“This event is about more than just fund-raising,” she told the crowd afterwards.
“It’s about the community coming together for a common cause and taking positive steps in helping to beat cancer.
“The spirit and enthusiasm showed by the teams was overwhelming – they all got involved in fancy dress, decorated their team sites and hosted activities and fund-raisers at their tents – such as slushy machines and fitness challenges.”
Cr George Blenkhorn spent the better half of last year organising the event and said he was particularly chuffed to hear that the event reminded people of “old Pakenham.”
“I was really pleased with how it went,” he said.
“There was a real sense of community.”
For more on the Gazette’s coverage of the relay, see pages 12-15.
