Relay for Life

Cancer survivor Norman Pledger, aged 101, was one of dozens of people who inspired those taking part in the second Central Otago Relay for Life, at Cromwell, during the weekend.

Losing a head full of hair is a small price to pay for two Queenstown women who hope to raise more than $3000 for cancer research, three years after family members died of cancer.

The 2012 Central Otago Relay for Life has already exceeded the expectations of committee chairwoman Lynn Manson, and the event is still six weeks away.

The 24-hour Cancer Society Relay for Life event will be based at the Cromwell Racecourse on March 17-18 .

Registrations are flooding in from teams who want to take part in the second Central Otago Relay for Life.

Central Otago's second Relay for Life, being held in Cromwell on March 17 and 18 next year, has a hard act to follow.

Oamaru's first Relay for Life raised $75,342 for the Cancer Society, but that total will climb as more money is still to come in.

Cancer Society Otago-Southland chief executive Mike Kernaghan (front), is flanked by a large crowd of fundraisers, following the Relay for Life at Logan Park, in Dunedin, yesterday.

Already more than 50 teams have registered for Oamaru's inaugural Relay for Life, the Cancer Society fundraising event to be held at Whitestone Contracting Centennial Park next month.

"It brings a tear to the eye - much like pepper spray does."