Portsmouth’s ‘Relay For Life’ celebrates 30 years this weekend
A 24-hour relay that unites fundraisers of all ages across Portsmouth will celebrate 30 years of helping to beat cancer this weekend.
The Portsmouth Relay for Life event, described by organisers as a mini-festival, will see 15 teams taking it in turns to complete laps around the clock in aid of Cancer Research UK.
The event, which begins at 12 noon on Saturday 18th July at Portsmouth Grammar School, is open to the public but is organised by teams whose lives have been touched by cancer.
Chairperson, Jayne Bowater, from Wickham, said: “I first got involved 14 years ago after my mum was diagnosed with cancer. Initially she was told she could be treated, but within a week her prognosis changed dramatically and she was switched to palliative care.
“But then treatment became available, allowing her to have chemotherapy and surgery which meant she was then declared cancer-free. I really wanted to give something back and that’s when I came across Relay for Life and formed our team.
“The event is a real celebration of the teams and participants who’ve spent the year fundraising to find new ways to prevent, detect and treat cancer. It culminates in our mini festival with bands around the clock, hair braiders, face painters, food vendors, tombola, retro sports games like egg and spoon races, three legged races, sack races and themed relay laps.”
The event begins at 12 with the survivors’ lap in which 43 men, women, adults and children who’ve all faced cancer, celebrate their survival thanks to advances in cancer research. They’ll then enjoy a survivor’s afternoon tea together.
At 4pm there’s a children’s hour with water pistols, bubbles and dressed up characters.
Meanwhile, as the sun sets at 10pm, the poignant Candle of Hope Ceremony is held to remember those lost to the disease. As well as decorating candle bags with touching messages dedicated to friends and loved ones, this year there will be light up bottles to commemorate those who’ve passed.
Jayne added: “We know that everyday in the UK 462 people will die of cancer, so this year, with the help of our youth committee, schoolchildren across Portsmouth have made handprints to represent the 462 people who won’t survive their diagnosis. They’ll be placed around the relay track to remind us why we must keep going to fund more life-saving research.”
Relay for Life is Cancer Research UK’s biggest global fundraiser and the UK is one of 36 countries taking part. As it celebrates its 30th year, Portsmouth Relay for Life is the second longest running event in the world and has raised over £1.9 million over the past three decades.
Jayne said: “The first event took place in 1985 when a colorectal surgeon in America decided to raise funds by running round a track for 24 hours. He invited friends to join him and raised $37,000 for the American Cancer Society. Realising the impact it had, they then began to include several teams and decided to make it a global event. Portsmouth was the first place outside America to get involved and now we relay alongside places like Belgium, Zimbabwe, United Arab Emirates and Finland.”
Their motto – ‘Cancer never sleeps, why should we?’ – means they have relayed through storms, heatwaves and even successfully navigated the COVID pandemic. This year though, will be Jayne’s last as chairperson as she’s handing the baton to another committee member after ten years in the role.
Jayne said: “I’ll still be doing Relay every year but not as chairperson and I want to give someone else the chance to bring new ideas to the table. We have a brilliant youth committee who are also helping to explore new ideas too and help reach new audiences. We’re always keen to welcome new teams as well who can join in the 24-hour fun. It is a real highlight of the year for all of us.”
With 220 participants, there’s plenty of time for people to walk or jog, rest up and join in the festivities. Members of the public are also invited to complete a lap or two.
Jayne said: “We have themed laps to make it extra fun including one where we wear silly hats for sun safety awareness, inflatables for lung cancer, PJs and teddies to mark children and young people’s cancers and bra and pants to remind people to check their bits and pieces. We have a purple lap as that’s the Relay for Life colour and we have introduced a pink lap to remember the team captain of the Pink Ladies team, Anne Stoyles, who sadly died last year, thirty years after her first diagnosis of breast cancer.”
Cancer Research UK’s relationship manager for Portsmouth, Christina Pask, said: “Nearly 1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime, but all of us can help beat it. That’s why we need everyone in Portsmouth to support the event and fight back.
“Cancer Research UK has led the development of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, paved the way for targeted treatments and improved the way we use surgery to tackle cancer.
“Every Relay, every team and every pound raised is taking us towards a world where everybody lives longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer. So, we hope as many people as possible will join us for an amazing event of celebration and remembrance.”
Christina added: “Cancer Research UK has helped double cancer survival in the UK in the last 50 years. Money raised by events like Relay For Life helps to accelerate advances like this and give more people more precious moments with their loved ones. So, we’re urging everyone to show their community spirit, take part and help support the charity’s scientists to keep making new discoveries.”
For more information about Relay For Life, to offer your support or start fundraising, visit cruk.org/relay or email [email protected]