What is Relay For Life
Relay is a unique, challenging and fun way to raise money for cancer research, prevention and early detection activities and patient services at the Cancer Society of New Zealand. Relay For Life is a celebration of remembrance, hope and thanks.
- The challenge is for teams of 10 or more to complete a relay-style walk or run at selected venues throughout New Zealand. Teams set their own goals in amounts of money they raise and how far they walk/stroll/jog or run.
- Team members take turns to keep their baton moving throughout the event, enjoying the sensational festive atmosphere created through entertainment, team members camping out, spot prizes and, most importantly, the vibrancy of the hundreds of lively people on the track!
- Relay For Life events are an overnight event with most being 24 hours in length.
- At dusk a Candle Light Ceremony is held to honour survivors and remember those who have died from cancer.
- A registration fee is charged per team member.
- Each team is encouraged to set their own fundraising goals and work towards achieving it. Fundraising can be done on an individual basis or as a team.
Where does the money go?
As the Cancer Society receives no direct government funding we are reliant on the generosity of the community through events such as Relay For Life which enables us to raise much needed funds to continue our work in the community.
The donations collected at Relay For Life will be used for cancer research, to continue the free services that we - the Cancer Society, offer to those people in our community living with cancer, their families and the health professionals that support them, and for cancer prevention programmes.
In many areas sponsorship from local businesses covers the entire cost of staging the event.