The first ever Wilmslow Relay For Life will take place at Wilmslow High School on 11th and 12th September. Organised by volunteers, this inspirational overnight event will run from midday on Saturday right through to midday on Sunday and brings teams of people together to celebrate the lives of those surviving cancer and to remember loved ones who have died.
Relay For Life teams are made up of friends, family members and colleagues. There are normally between 8 and 12 members in each team, though there is one team of 20, and so far 8 teams have registered to take part in the first Wilmslow event. Each team has to keep their baton going around the track for 24 hours so the teams camp out over night.
Event chair Julie Harrison said "We will be having themed laps to make it lots of fun, some to convey important cancer awareness messages, and we are combining the event with a fun day for the local community. We have a fire engine and police car in attendance for the kids and entertainment will be provided by singers, hula hooping, cheerleaders and dance displays."
The Mayor of Cheshire, Gordon Baxendale, will be opening the event and the first lap will be walked by cancer survivors of all ages. As Relay For Life's Guests of Honour they will be treated to a very special day and some of them are also fundraising as part of a team.
Amongst the survivors is brave teenager Chelsea Robb who will be taking part in both the lap of honour and the relay as she battles cancer for the third time aged only 18.
Julie Harrison said "Myself and Liz Wood entered Stockport Relay for Life last year as part of our team. We enjoyed it so much that we decided, in a mad moment, to bring this event to Wilmslow. We are hoping to make a huge success in order that it can become an annual event. There are around 72 relays run nationally around the country and they raise a fantastic amount of money for Cancer Research UK.
"Both our daughters are also involved on the committee and we all have our very own reasons for supporting this wonderful charity in that we have all lost loved ones to this dreadful illness."
A poignant part of the relay is The Candle of Hope ceremony - as darkness falls, candles are lit to remember all those whose lives have been touched by cancer. Members of the community can make a small donation for a candle bag, decorate them in memory of a loved one who has been lost to cancer or alternatively in celebration of someone who has survived cancer. These will be placed around the track to light the way for the teams walking overnight.
Julie explained "The ceremony is a very moving part of the event, and we have some gospel singers who are going to sing for us."
"We have already raised around £7000 via various different fund raising activities including a Fashion Show at the Aston Martin showroom and a Ladies Garden Party held by one of our teams. In addition to this we have collected hundreds of donation bags for our local Cancer Research UK Retail outlets in Alderley and Wilmslow and we are holding a fund raising evening on the 16th September. A Ladies only, "Sex and the City" extravaganza at Funizuz in Cheadle. Tickets are £10 including your first cocktail and nibbles and of course more importantly your ticket to watch this fantastic movie on the big screen. There is also lots of opportunity prior to the screening for some retail therapy. To book tickets call 0161 491 6611."
They will also be holding a donation station on 11th September, where the general public can bring along any unwanted items: clothes, cd's, curtains, books and anything that you would normally send to your local charity shop as Relay For Life are supporting Cancer Research retail outlets in both Wilmslow and Alderley Edge and they will be in attendance on the days.
Relay For Life is a great opportunity to team up with people you know to help beat cancer - all you need to do is get a team together and start fundraising. The relay event focuses on fun for all the family so anybody can join in, regardless of age or fitness level.
The organisers are still looking for people to take part, it is not too late. In particular they are looking for members of the community who have survived cancer and who would like to attend the event as guests of honour. They are also looking for volunteers to help, anybody who would like to register as a team or part of a team and donations from local companies to help with things that we need such as marquees, gazebos, tents, portaloos and lighting.
If you are interested in joining in then please contact event chair Liz Wood on 07923322710 or via email.
Further information can also be found on their website and Facebook page.
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In addition some fun doggy classes are being held so the organisers are asking that the local community to bring along their pups and dogs as there will be lots of fun for them.
Vehicle access if by the A34 and pedestrians only by Holly Road.