BY the time more than 200 participants crossed the starting line at Cleveland Showgrounds on Saturday, April 29, Redlands Relay For Life 2017 was already well on its way to raising $50,000 in aid of life-saving, cancer research.
Directly benefiting the work of the Cancer Council, Relay For Life events take place across the country throughout the year, providing an opportunity for communities to acknowledge local cancer survivors and their carers, and to honour lost loved ones.
Redlands' opening ceremony, hosted by deputy mayor Wendy Boglary, took place at 3pm on Saturday at the showgrounds in stunning autumn conditions.
Patron of Redlands Relay For Life mayor Karen Williams and the 2017 'face of relay' Caitlin Toovey cut the starting ribbon with Jill Bloomer, who organised the first Redlands Relay For Life 15 years ago.
Teams then took to the track and completed as many laps as they could before the closing ceremony on Sunday morning.
A survivors and carers afternoon tea, organised by the local Zonta club, took place not long after the relay's start, ahead of a moving candlelight vigil on Saturday evening.
The courageous teams were rewarded with breakfast and a yoga session after what proved to be an uplifting experience for an enthusiastic community of participants.
Those wanting to donate to the Redlands Relay For Life can do so online at fundraising.cancer.org.au/RFL_RedlandCity_2017.
