Charitable residents of West Melbourne, Victoria, are gearing up to join thousands of people from nearby communities in the annual Relay For Life.
The event is a major fundraiser for the Cancer Council of Victoria, and workmates, family, and friends form teams of 10 for an overnight run or walk, during which each team member keeps their baton on the move.
Camping out at Flagstaff Gardens is encouraged for team members, to ensure everyone is supported no matter what time of day or night they are competing.
The staging of the event is considered so spectacular that promotional photographs taken at previous relays have been snapped up by local marketing teams for use on brochure and postcard printing campaigns.
Since its formation in 1985 over in the USA, Relay For Life is staged in more than 20 countries with competitors totalling in excess of four million.
Australia’s first overnight event was held in Murrumbeena in 1999, and resulted in the Cancer Council receiving over $75,000.
Today, an estimated 134,000 charity-minded individuals take part annually, with their efforts raising more than $24,000 towards vital support, research and prevention programs.
This major fundraising event, the largest of its kind in the world, will be held this afternoon (Saturday, December 6th) from 4pm to midnight and tomorrow from midnight to 10am.
