There will be a silver lining around this year’s Hills Relay For Life as the annual community fundraiser for Cancer Council NSW takes to the track at Castle Hill Showground on May 16th.
This year’s 24 hour event will be a packed program of activities starting at 9am on Saturday May 16th and finishing on Sunday morning.
First lap will be for Relay’s VIP attendees, the Survivors and Carers which will be followed by a special Survivors and Carers morning tea.
There is on-stage entertainment during the day until 10pm on Saturday plus trackside fun. You can walk as many laps as you like and for as long as you like. There will be food and coffee available to buy at the event as well as stalls and activations all day. There will also be a display of Hills Relay over the years in the Harvey Lowe Pavilion.
One of the most moving parts of the event is the twilight Ceremony of Hope on Saturday from 6pm when people walk with a lighted candle bag to remember loved ones who have passed away and those undergoing treatment.
On Sunday Relayers are invited to bring their dog to the annual Sunday Dog Morning at Relay which will feature a display by the RuffTrack dogs and prizes for registered dogs.
Hills Relay For Life Chair Lisa Carruthers said: “Relay For Life is more than an event. It’s an event of connection, celebration, and remembrance, raising vital funds for Cancer Council’s research, prevention, and support services.
“We are looking forward to celebrating our 25th anniversary of Hills Relay in May. We have a lot planned to celebrate this milestone and our committee has been working tirelessly behind the scenes. We look forward to welcoming teams who have been with the first relay and our new teams.
“With every step, we move closer to a future where fewer lives are touched by cancer. So far more than $6m has been raised over those years by the community at Hills Relay.”
Katie Didsbury was a teenager when she came to her first Relay as a team member, she has been on the committee for 20 years. She said she loved “the huge sense of community” that shone every year.
Committee members Feona Henness and Jenny Glover are part of the Hills District Little Athletics’ team which joined Hills Relay For Life about 12 years ago. When asked what they love best about Hills Relay For Life, Feonna said: “The Carers and Survivors’ Morning Tea. It’s not just a morning tea but something personal. I am a survivor and I am a carer.
The people who come love it because they are in a room with others who understand what they are going through. It’s a safe space.” Jenny said the twilight Hope Ceremony was always a special moment. “It brings the community together for a time of reflection for those we have lost and those who are fighting and is about hope for the future.” This Year’s Hills Relay For Life is on May 16/17th at Castle Hill Showground.
To find out more and to register a team or donate visit: relayforlife.org.au and search for Hills 2026.
