Fun day planned for serious relay

Ready, set, go! The Wanganui-Rangitikei-Waimarino Cancer Society's Relay For Life is gearing up and ready to go on March 16, at Cooks Gardens.

The society's community health adviser, Jane Beamsley, said 40 teams had already registered for the 24-hour walk.

"We've had a lot of interest from other people, and we probably have room for 65 teams in all," Ms Beamsley said.

Now being run for the eighth time, the aim of the Relay For Life is to raise money for the Cancer Society, she said.

"The money raised goes towards our support services, transport services and health promotion services."

Starting at noon on Saturday, March 16, teams of 10 or more take it in turns to walk laps around Cooks Gardens, for a total of 24 hours.

Ms Beamsley said it costs a team of 10 $100 to enter, which gets them entry to the event, a T-shirt and a cooked breakfast on Sunday morning. Each extra person in a team costs $10.

"We have corporate teams, family teams, sports teams and teams of friends," she said.

"A lot of people dress up and make it crazy and fun."

The special feature of the relay is the first lap, which is walked by cancer survivors.

It is the first time the event is being held at Cooks Gardens and Vallie Finlay, the function and events managers at Cooks Gardens, said she was delighted to be associated with the Relay For Life.

"It's quite a coup for us to have the Relay For Life here. It's pretty cool to be part of it."

To register your team, contact the Cancer Society on (06) 348 7402.