Cancer Research UK’s Relay For Life is a unique celebration of life and hope which unites communities to help beat cancer and culminates in a fantastic family and team event.
Teams of between eight to 15 people – of all ages, levels of fitness and from all walks of life – are needed to take part in the overnight fundraising festival at Ferndown Leisure Centre over the weekend of 12 – 13 July.
During the Relay itself, team members take it in turns to walk round a track while everyone else enjoys a wide range of fun activities on offer. As Relay For Life is non-stop through the night, those team members not on the track take turns to rest, eat, or sleep in their tents, which are set up close by.
As dusk falls, the atmosphere quietens as the Candle of Hope ceremony begins. The event is the most poignant part of Relay For Life when specially made Candle of Hope bags – decorated with touching messages in memory or in celebration of loved ones – are filled with sand and lit up with candles around the track.
Chris Symonds volunteer Chair of Cancer Research UK’s Relay For Life Bournemouth & East Dorset said: “It is a great way to spend time with your friends, family and colleagues while raising money for a seriously worth-while cause. Everyone knows someone who has been touched by cancer. Taking part in Relay For Life is a positive way to be part of your local community and help make a real difference.
“Cancer Research UK is dedicated to saving more lives by preventing, controlling and curing all cancers. The charity funds the work of thousands of scientists, doctors and nurses who are fighting over 200 types of cancer.
“Thanks to Cancer Research UK’s work, more people are surviving cancer than ever before. Survival rates have doubled over the last 40 years and the charity’s work has been at the heart of that progress.
“But despite improvements in treatment, cancer causes more than one in four of all deaths in the UK. Cancer Research UK wants to change that and needs the help of people in Ferndown to help save many more lives. ”
For more information on how to enter Relay For Life visit cruk.org/relay or call 0871 641 2602.
