A Dunedin mother broke down in tears yesterday recalling the ''long journey'' since her 10 year old son was diagnosed with leukaemia.
Moana Taana walked for 24 hours from noon on Saturday with about 30 family members and friends at Relay for Life at Forsyth Barr Stadium to support her son Pape.
''It's been awesome and tiring. I haven't had a sleep,'' Miss Taana said. Pape, a Carisbrook School pupil, was diagnosed with cancer in July last year and the next day, the mother and son travelled to Christchurch for six months of ''intense chemotherapy''.
''Watching him go through it killed part of me,'' Miss Taana said, crying.
''It pretty much broke me.''
She stayed strong for her son and the chemotherapy had continued in Dunedin since Christmas.
''It's a long journey but the family are all behind us.''
Pape, wearing a shirt with the slogan ''Better believe the hype'', watched his supporters walk around the stadium yesterday. and was humbled by his family's effort.
''Thanks everyone who supported me. I love you all,'' Pape said.
Dunedin Relay for Life co ordinator Susie Ferkins said 2500 people registered for the event and hundreds more supporters and spectators watched.
Dunedin beat its own record for the most teams entered in a Relay for Life nationally with about 150 teams signing up this year.
''Everybody was so into it this year; there was so much enthusiasm,'' Miss Ferkins said.
About $215,000 had been donated, and other proceeds were being counted. A final figure would be available today.
The money would go to the Cancer Society. The biennial event would return to the stadium in 2017 but University of Otago students would hold a similar event next year.
