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Survivors Gather - Relay for life gives chance to support |
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Written by Administrator
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Friday, 19 October 2007 |
Cancer survivors and supporters alike gathered at the Maleny showgrounds at the weekend for this year’s Relay for Life.
Thirty-two teams congregated on the oval from all over the Coast and among them were mother and son cancer survivor pair Roz and Ryan Blomfield. Roz 49, said she had just come out of her second cancer battle on top and couldn’t feel better about taking part in the relay.
“As a survivor I feel that it’s very important to raise money for cancer research, personally I have been through cancer twice. Twenty years ago I had cervical cancer and I’ve just finished treatment for breast cancer,” she said. “It’s for fun, for fundraising and getting to know other people who have gone through it too. That’s a big thing you form a real camaraderie.”
And the fact that her son, another cancer survivor and role model, was by her side made it even more worthwhile. “My son Ryan had cancer six years ago and he survived… he was a great strength to me.”
Roz and Ryan lapped the showgrounds arm in arm, which cemented the incredible strength and determination shown by every survivor. Six years ago Ryan 24, suffered from cancer throughout his body and was told he was going to die and he said it was just something he felt he had to do.
“It’s just a good cause to get behind. I only found out about it at the start of the week and thought I’d come down for the race,” he said. “The doctor said, ‘you’ve got six months to live’, and I just laughed and said, “I ain’t done with living just yet. And here I am.”
Relay for Life project officer Dot Billingham said she was “chuffed” that the number of teams that turned up this year more than doubled last year’s count. “We’re just really chuffed. Hopefully we are going to raise quite a bit of money, which is really good – we’re hoping to raise over $35,000,” she said.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 19 October 2007 )
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Range News 2005 - ON 
