There are many around town counting their blisters this week in the wake of the weekend’s Relay for Life at the Tenterfield Showground, which raised $22,000 (and counting) for the Cancer Council.
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Logistics coordinator John Landers said that while the total wasn’t quite as high as expected, the members of the 19 teams involved put in a mighty effort and had a great time doing it.
He was impressed by the ‘Miss Relay’ pageant raising $527 in just half-an-hour, with the boys-dressed-as-girls each taking around the bucket to entice admirers to part with their cash. There were massagers for the foot-weary and pizza, soup and other home-baked goods for sustenance, with all proceeds going to the cause.
The much-welcomed breakfast cooked by the Tenterfield Lions Club featured eggs donated by Peepers Cheepers and bacon donated by Coles, on buns donated by Tenterfield Bakery for a real community effort.
A framed rugby league NSW State of Origin donated by Chris Markham generated $3000 in spirited bidding, and the Royal Hotel kicked in $763 raised through 100 Club draws in aid of the Mumma’s Pride team.
The relay was officially opened by Mr Landers’ daughter Allison Binge, herself a cancer survivor (see story in Tenterfield Star April 27), who then went on to walk 57 kilometres around the main ring.
Big sister Jenny pipped her, walking 59 kilometres.
“But she walks every morning,” was Mr Landers’ reasoning.
The walkers enjoyed mild conditions until fog descended around 2am, with teams calling it a day around 9am the next morning.
Mr Landers said the committee had aimed to raise $30,000, but with donations continuing to come in he feels they’ll breach the $25,000 mark.
“Numbers were down but everyone had a good time,” he said.
His answer to critics that say the money goes out of town is to point to the shades over the nearby barbecue and bar area at the showground that was funded by a Cancer Council grant after the last relay.
“And indirectly the money comes back to us through more cancer research, and that’s just so expensive,” he said.
