Nathan Paull 21st August 2009 Alex Van Gool takes a moment to reflect during the candle lighting ceremony at last year’s Relay for
Life. WHILE the Relay for Life teams put the finishing touches on their costumes and themes, chairwoman Leonie Hills said it was time to reflect on where the funds raised will be spent. She said while participants have a lot of fun during the event, they are also working to help people affected by cancer in central Queensland. According to the Cancer Council Queensland, more than 1,000 people are diagnosed with cancer and over 360 people die from cancer in central Queensland every year. Statistics also show that one in every two people from Gladstone will get skin cancer at some point in their life and four will die each year from the disease. The charity organisation has also provided $132,275 in financial assistance to 312 central Queensland cancer patients.
Although the relay will be the main aim of the event, there will also be other aspects of Relay for Life offering participants cancer prevention tips and to reflect on those who have been affected by cancer.