RIVERLAND Relay for Life organisers are encouraging locals to register for the Cancer Council fundraising event, which is currently scheduled to go ahead in an altered format later this year.
The annual event will be held on October 24 at the Berri Oval, with organisers opting to host a 28km relay instead of the usual 19-hour journey.
Cancer Council’s Riverland branch secretary Nancy Murdock said there was a special meaning behind the new format.
“It’s a 28km relay because there are 28 South Australians diagnosed with cancer every day,” she said.
“You can do the relay on your own, using an honesty system, or you can come and do it at the oval.
“The main reason we do it in the Riverland is to support the Flinders and Greenhill lodges.
“Last year there were 32,800 nights of accommodation for regional South Australians using those lodges for treatment in Adelaide, which I think is a very important thing.”
Ms Murdock said a “lot of changes” had been made to the format in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“If it can go ahead on that day it will only be from about 2pm to 9pm, with an opening service and a candlelight service, and a walk from the oval to the bridge and back together,” she said.
“That would be a big change to what we normally do.”
Ms Murdock said organisers had set a fundraising goal of $15,000 for this year’s relay, with the 11 registered teams having raised almost $6000 already.
“Usually we raise well in the $50,000s, but this year we are aiming for $15,000 and if we can make that it would be a great effort,” she said.
“If it can’t happen on the day, because everything is changing day-to-day, we’ll still raise some money and hopefully have a much better year next year to do a big event.”
To be part of the event, visit the Relay for Life website (fundraising.cancer.org.au) and register for the Riverland 2020 Relay Your Way 28km Challenge.