Q. How are plans for this weekend shaping up?
It has been a very busy couple of weeks but the committee are very excited about the programme for an awesome weekend.
Q. You have a different format this year, with a shorter time frame 3pm-10am. What prompted that change?
As so many people are involved in activities and sports on a Saturday now we responded to feedback to make the event a little shorter (20 hours allowing for daylight saving!).
It means people can easily set up on Saturday and get home by lunchtime Sunday.
Q. How many teams, and how many people will be involved in the weekend?
We have around 40 teams registered with approximately 500 people as well as many volunteers to help with the running of the event.
Q. What will some of the highlights be?
We have a great line-up of entertainment as well as some awesome competitions with prizes for best-dressed team, best-dressed tent site, best mail box, best baton, track quiz-winning team, track Scrabble-winning team, most participants, most funds raised and top school.
There will be lots of fun activities and good food and coffee from local vendors at the event, too.
Q. How did you get involved - does this cause have any personal significance for you?
I am a volunteer for the Cancer Society organising Daffodil Day in Cromwell with Linda Mitchell.
I have lost family members to cancer and have friends who are survivors- everyone is affected by cancer in some way.
Q. Tell us what's special about the Relay for Life?
It is a time for people to come together and celebrate life.
Our lives are shaped as much by those who leave us as they are by those who stay.
Q. What kind of things have teams been doing to raise funds?
Car rally, head shave, concert, beard shave, crepes and bubbles, quiz, high tea ... all sorts of things.
We encourage people to let their imagination run wild.
Q. Even if people haven't registered a team, can they come along as individuals and make a donation and enjoy the entertainment on offer?
Yes, we would love anyone who can make it to come along, soak up the great atmosphere and make a donation if they want to.
Food vendors are donating a portion of their proceeds and teams are having stalls. Highlights to visit are the opening ceremony at 2.45pm, the candle light ceremony at 9pm tonight and the closing ceremony at 10am tomorrow. (Although everything will be a highlight!)
Q. Do you have any fundraising target in mind?
Our aim is to raise as much as possible to help the Cancer Society provide services in our area.
Money raised goes directly into services and programmes to support local people affected by cancer, so every dollar helps.
Q. What happens to the proceeds?
Is the money raised used in this area?All the proceeds raised at the event stays in the local Queenstown Lakes/Central Otago area to help keep the services the Cancer Society provide free and easily accessible to anyone who needs support due to cancer.
The money raised also enables the Cancer Society to run programmes that aim to reduce the risk of people getting cancer and to fund research so that one day we can hope to find a cure.
