[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″ offset=”vc_col-lg-1/5 vc_col-md-1/5 vc_col-xs-1/5″][us_image image=”81872″ size=”thumbnail” align=”left” style=”circle” has_ratio=”1″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/12″ offset=”vc_col-lg-4/5 vc_col-md-4/5 vc_col-xs-4/5″][vc_column_text]By Bev Jordan[/vc_column_text][us_post_date][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]For mother of two Lisa Carruthers from Glenorie, the Hills Relay For Life is a very personal yet public journey.
Lisa is chair of the community organising committee which will be running the Hills Relay For Life on May 20th at Castle Hill Showground.
Motivated by her mum’s journey with breast and liver cancer, Lisa joined the Hills Relay For Life 8 years ago to make a difference to other people’s cancer journey.
Her mum, Carmen, passed away 15 years ago on May 3rd while on a journey to Peru to visit family.
Lisa said: “I attended my first Hills Relay For Life in 2015, the company I was working for at the time came on board as a Sponsor. I saw it as a fantastic way for my young family to do something in honour of my mother.
“She was and still is my inspiration, every day.”
“I grew up believing, like my mother, that everyone deserves help when they need it, which is what I try to show my own boys.
“They have both grown up attending our Hills Relay, my youngest Drayton was only 4 back at our first one and now he is in high school. “
The annual 24-hour Hills Relay For Life starts at 9am on Saturday, May 20th. It will be the 22nd event organised by a volunteer community committee.
The first lap of the track is for Cancer survivors and carers which will be followed by a special morning survivors and carers morning tea.
The twilight candlelight ceremony of Remembrance starts at 6pm.
There are 70 teams already registered for the 2023 Hills Relay including local businesses, schools, service groups, churches, youth organisations and groups of families and friends.
You don’t have to run at the Hills Relay For Life, in fact most participants walk and talk around the 400m track at Castle Hill Showground, but this year will be the added value of pedal power with a 24-hour static cycle challenge for Hills Relay For Life participants as part of the activities around the track.
The highest fundraising team in the challenge will win an Electra Townie Go eBike valued at $2,400 donated by Trek Cycles at Rouse Hill.
Lisa said the trackside activations will keep people moving and entertained during the day and also include a box car rally and a fancy hat parade with onstage entertainment appealing to all ages.
“There is such a carnival atmosphere at Relay,” said Lisa. “As you walk around you see neighbours and friends catching up and there is so much to see and enjoy. You really can see four generations in action to make a difference in the cancer journey.”
Individual registration is $30. There is a group family registration available for $70. Under 8s are free to attend. Registration for 8-13 years is $15 with student tickets $20 with a student card.
The Hills Relay For Life website is: https://www.relayforlife.org.au//register/hills-2023
Follow the Hills Relay For Life Facebook Page for updates and details.
Since Hills Relay was founded in 2001 the Hills participants have raised over $5m for Cancer Council NSW.
Lisa thanked all the event sponsors but in particular the Purple sponsors: Castle Towers, Event Cinemas and CHRG (Castle Hill RSL Group).[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
