WITH just a few weeks left until the 2015 Queanbeyan Relay for Life, committee member Natalie Jupe says now is the perfect time to grab your work mates, friends and family and register a team.
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The Queanbeyan Relay for Life will be held on the weekend of February 21 - 22 and this year's theme is "country and western".
The event involves teams walking around a track for 24 hours to raise money for cancer research and programs. It includes a ceremony Survivors Walk and HOPE ceremony to remember those have been affected by cancer.
A total of 16 teams have registered so far and this year's goal is to raise $110,000 for the Cancer Council.
"I definitely think we will reach our goal, there's already been a lot of strong support shown in the early stages of the event," Ms Jupe said.
"This is our fourth year so we're definitely getting those regular teams registering but we're also encouraging new people to come and support us."
The 2015 Relay for Life will be held at the Queanbeyan Showground instead of Seiffert Oval. Ms Jupe said the change in venue will mean more space for parking, camping and improved facilities.
Cathy Croker, a regular Relay for Life participant, hopes the change in venue will encourage more people to join the community event.
Mrs Croker has been entering a team, known as 'The Smurfs' in the Relay for Life since it first began. Her team is made up of her fellow NSW Government co-workers as well as friends and family.
She said they continue to attend the Relay for Life because they have all been affected by cancer, whether personally or through someone they know.
The group have signed up for another Relay and they shouldn't be too difficult to spot around the oval. They'll be the ones dressed in blue shirts, white shorts and white hats.
"It's a wonderful weekend. It is a lot of effort to get everyone there and organise yourself but for me, it gives me a huge sense of community and it's for a good cause," she said.
"It's something that's important to all of us in the team."
The Relay is an opportunity for people to connect with others in the community. Sometimes, it may be the only time they see each other over the year.
"There are some teams that enter every year and we all know each other now. You're on the track day and night so you just talk to whoever happens to be around," she said.
"There's lots of rivalry [among the teams], you rev each other up. 'Come on, you lot are getting slack', that type of thing."
Mrs Croker hoped this year would be a drier affair, after a very wet and rainy relay in 2014. However, she said it was a small sacrifice.
"Last year it absolutely poured with rain, almost flooded out but it was still really good fun," she said.
"When you send 24 hours walking in the rain, it's not fun but compared to what a person with cancer goes through in 24 hours; rain is nothing."
n For more information, to register a team or make a donation please visit www.relayforlife.org.au.
