Ready to go on the walk of life

– Kath Gannaway
FIFTEEN Healesville High School students will carry the baton for teenagers in the Cancer Council’s Relay For Life on the weekend.
Under the banner of The Tremendous Tribe will camp out with 20 or so other teams at the Don Road Sporting Complex in Healesville to raise money for cancer research.
Tribe organiser Jade Matthews said the team wanted to do something to help raise funds for cancer research and they wanted to have fun.
“We’ve been working hard to raise money through sponsorship and raffles and we are really looking forward to taking part in the event.”
Jade said her grandmother, Beryl Matthews, had survived cancer and would be walking in the Survivors’ Walk, which opens the relay.
Another member of the team Maddy Halwerda lost his mother, Rowena to cancer four years ago.
Relay organiser Lyndall Parsons said the involvement of young people in the relay reflects the impact of cancer on all sections of the community and the commitment of people to fight it.
Cancer Council figures show around 540 people are diagnosed with cancer in Yarra Ranges Shire each year and each year 240 people die from the disease.
Around 3250 Yarra Ranges people have received a cancer diagnosis and almost 1230 are undergoing treatment.
Funds raised at relay events provide money for research, education and support programs.
There is still time for people to register a team for the relay, which will start at 4pm on Saturday 7 October and finish at 10am the next morning.
Ms Parsons said cancer survivors and carers were invited to join in the Survivors and Carers Walk, which was part of the opening ceremony at 4pm.
Locals are also invited to come along to support the teams, to observe the candlelight ceremony at 7.30pm and enjoy the entertainment. Phone Amy Coopersmith at the Cancer Council on 9635 5000 or Lyndall Parsons on 9736 4392 for more information.