Riverland students are ready to Relay!

Relay For Life is a chance for communities across the state to come together to celebrate, remember and fight back against cancer, and this October, the Riverland community will be doing just that.

Across 19 hours from 22-23 October, teams from the Riverland region will step out at the Renmark Oval for their 19th annual Relay For Life event.

One of the participating teams gearing up for the Riverland Relay For Life event is made up of students from Berri Regional Secondary College. And they have a very personal reason for taking part.

Berri Regional Secondary College teacher Carina Nicholson says that for the group of year 12 students, it’s a special way to show fellow students and staff impacted by cancer that the school community is behind them.

“I look after the student leaders at our school, and one of the year 12 students said he wanted to set up a team,” Carina explains.

“We’ve got a couple of students impacted by cancer in our school community, and they wanted to make a gesture and show of support for these students during a very vulnerable time.”

As well as supporting her students in taking part in this year’s Riverland Relay For Life, Carina says the event and raising money for Cancer Council SA is a cause very close to her heart too.

“On a personal note, I’m going through my own breast cancer journey and was undergoing my first rounds of treatment when these students were only in year 8. So, they’ve really watched me go through this journey for the whole of their high school experience,” she says.

“Relay For Life is all about community coming together and supporting important services for people impacted by cancer, of which I’ve seen the benefit firsthand.

“I stayed at Cancer Council SA’s Greenhill Lodge accommodation for four weeks in 2018 while undergoing radiation and that support was invaluable to me.

“By raising funds and taking part in Relay For Life, we are helping to ensure that these services that I’ve benefited from, will continue to be there for others going through cancer too.”

All the money raised through the 2022 Riverland Relay For Life will help Cancer Council SA to fund vital research, prevention, advocacy and support services, including information and support from experienced cancer nurses through Cancer Council 13 11 20.

Cancer Council SA Relationship Officer Dean Parker says it’s not too late to show your support and register to take part.

“Registrations for the event are still open and we would love to see as many people as possible from the Riverland community get involved,” he says.

“All the money raised will make a vital difference to the lives of South Australians impacted by cancer and help fund projects that are changing lives every day.”

Click here to find out more about Relay For Life, sign up, or show your support with a donation.