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Hundreds take part in the Relay For Life

Jun 7 2009 by Coreena Ford, Sunday Sun

HUNDREDS of people from across the North were putting their best foot forward last night as part of the world’s biggest fundraising event.

The Relay for Life saw determined volunteers pull on their trainers to make a circuit around Gateshead Stadium and help to raise Cancer Research UK at the same time.

And the runners – or walkers – were continuing to make circuits throughout the night at the Tyneside stadium, as teams around the world were doing just the same at similar events at stadia all over the globe, including one at Monkton Stadium in Jarrow, South Tyneside.

The event started with the most poignant and important part of the 20-hour event . . . a Lap of Honour, completed just by cancer survivors.

Last year football pundit Bobby Moncur, who is also a cancer survivor, attended.

Unlike other fundraising events, participants are not sponsored to take part.

Instead teams of eight to 15 people had been encouraged to raise as much money as possible before the event through a range of fundraising activities.

Pat Stevens, chair of Cancer Research UK Relay For Life in Gateshead, said: “Cancer Research UK’s Relay For Life is about being part of a community united in the belief it can make a difference and help beat cancer.

“It is a unique event with a celebratory atmosphere and everyone who joins in takes away something special.

“All the teams come together to celebrate their fundraising achievements.

“It’s a day of hope and remembrance and a time when they can see that their efforts have really helped to make a difference.”

All the money raised helps to fund Cancer Research UK’s research to improve understanding of the disease and investigate how best to prevent, diagnose and treat forms of cancer.

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