Walking, running, skipping, jumping or anyway they can, participants of the Relay For Life do lap after lap in support of the Cancer Council and its research to find a cure for cancer. The Relay is a time to celebrate those who have beaten cancer, remember those we’ve lost, and encourage those who are still battling.

The Canberra 24-hour Relay For Life event is scheduled to take place at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) on Saturday 13 April. However, schools around the country have the option of a Relay Your Way event. One Canberra school taking part is St Mary MacKillop College, whose students have been relaying their way since the pandemic.

One Saturday in early April, Year 12 students will make their way to school by 7am for 12 hours of walking laps around the oval. Of the 286 senior students, the school organisers are expecting most of them to show up. Those who can’t make it are still fundraising for the cause.

Supporting the students on their relay is Donna who runs the canteen and is donating breakfast for the team. There will also be school bands playing original songs, music pumping through speakers, fun and games.

“It’s a good chance to raise awareness and raising awareness is the first step to making those big changes, which is a good thing, especially for cancer, which affects many of us,” says Charlie Vandenberg.

No-one in Charlie’s direct family unit has experienced cancer, but she knows others who have and says that anybody is at risk of developing cancer. That’s why she wants to help by doing all the laps – if she has the legs.   

To keep things fun and interesting, each lap will have a different theme. While some are still in development, the first lap will start with a conga line. There will be dances around the oval to the Nutbush and macarena, bubble blowing, ball games and more.

“We’ve got a colour run, we’re going to throw paint on each other and make the white shirts really stand out. Water guns were suggested, and the bubble soccer balls where we can try and roll each other across the line,” says Tadhg Meade, Faith and Community Captain.

“I put down musical statues because we have music playing and then it stops so you rest – a little secret rest,” smiles Jayda Love-Casson.

Tadhg is fairly confident he can last the 12 hours while Jayda predicts a half-hour break for her. She says a common goal among students is 50km, with the oval circumference around 600m.

“It’s a great opportunity for us as well to get involved in something that’s loved by everyone, it is such good awareness. Millions of people are affected by cancer every day,” says Jayda.

The students say Relay For Life is an event the whole country gets behind and shows up for and they’re proud to be part of a school that has such a strong dedication to the cause.

“They promote it every day, they speak about it all the time, encourage us, keep us going,” says Jayda.

“Our community is so loved, we all just love each other so much and to see some people who are affected by it, it boosts us more to try and help us much as we can,” says Tadhg.

For one student, this year’s Relay For Life is particularly poignant. Finn Beasley’s mother, Nicole, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022. After undergoing treatment last year, including surgery and chemotherapy, Nicole was given the all-clear just before Christmas.

“It was a very big relief for the whole family, a weight off of all our shoulders, especially hers,” says Finn. “It was a hard experience. Just seeing mum go through that especially when she first started chemo and going to surgery was definitely hard to see her being so unwell and tired.”

The school supported Finn throughout the process. He says they made counsellors available, were always there when he needed to talk, and constantly checked in on him and the family. While it was a trying time for Finn, his parents and older brother, they came out the other end stronger.

“It was also a good experience for us, it helped us come together as a family and just seeing her be able to battle through it and be able to come out on top was a really good experience for us.”

Although Finn has to leave part way through the Relay to play soccer, when he returns, he hopes to do as many laps as he can. He believes the event is a great way to show support and how passionate people are about finding a cure.

“It is really nice for everyone to get involved and show their support for people who have cancer or for families or other people who are involved,” says Finn.

Finn’s advice for someone else who might be in a similar situation to him and his family, or for someone on the outside who doesn’t know how to help, is to just be there through it.

“Support them through it,” he says. “If you have a family member going through it or you are going through it themselves, just keep battling, keep supporting. Do whatever you can to have them or yourself in a good mindset and be confident that they can get through it.”

According to Finn, something is better than nothing. Whether you are supporting someone going through cancer or you want to be part of the way to a cure, he says to get involved sooner rather than later.

“Even with these events or just in general being able to help out, giving donations or even just giving moral support … Get around it,” Finn smiles.  

To support the St Mary MacKillop College students in their Relay For Life, donate via relayforlife.org.au

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