20th birthday of the Hills Relay For Life -Cold Day for Warm Hearts
By Bev Jordan
Hundreds of people gathered on Saturday (May 15) at Castle Hill Showground to celebrate the 20th birthday of the Hills Relay For Life.
Instead of a 24-hour event, COVID Restrictions limited it to a five-hour picnic-style format with 500 people although there was a sparkling firework finale.
The Chair of the 2021 Hills Relay organising committee Lisa Carruthers said” “We are all so very grateful for all of the awesome support from our Hills Community.
“We are currently sitting at $119,000 raised this year, and over $4.5million raised over the past 20 years.”
Founding chair Cathy Aird spoke about how Hills Relay started in 2001 and cut the ribbon for the first lap after the oath was said by cancer survivor James Butler, founding committee member and former Chair.
The cake cutting and on-stage entertainment was followed by the candlelight ceremony.
Lisa said: “Our Candlelight Ceremony of HOPE was a very moving reminder of why we Relay, and how we Celebrate survivors, Remember our lost loved ones and Fightback against cancer.”
She thanked the “hard working and passionate” organising committee and the major sponsors, Castle Towers, CHRG, Event Cinemas and Hills Shire Council for helping to make the event happen and to Karen D’Angola at Di Jones Real Estate and DazzleFX Fireworks for donating the birthday fireworks.
DATES TO REMEMBER
• Hills Relay For Life Trivia Night on June 12. Doors open 7pm for a 7.30pm start at The Hills Grammar School. Tickets are $20pp max 10 per table. To book email denise. [email protected] for details.
• A Hills Relay For Life High Tea July 3 at Rydges Norwest 2pm to 4pm tickets are $50 each. Contact Robin on 0409 603 846.
