In 2007 the Relay for Life held at Windy Hill raised in excess of $220,000 for the Cancer Council of Victoria. It is a figure organisers are hoping to surpass at the 2008 version being held this weekend.
The 24-hour event, which commences at 6pm this Friday, has attracted 46 participating teams and this year’s event is expected to see more than 2000 converge on the Windy Hill precinct. The event aims to raise funds for cancer research, education and patient support programs.
Essendon Football Club’s support of this event comes through its preferred charity partnership with the Cancer Council of Victoria. A number of Essendon players will make appearances at the event this weekend.
Other elements of this partnership include the Clash for Cancer match that will be played against
“We place great value on the partnership we have with the Cancer Council of Victoria and Windy Hill works particularly well as a venue for the Relay for Life. We think this event will only grow over time and continue to provide significant financial support to the Cancer Council,” Essendon General Manager of Media and Community Simon Matthews said.
“The Essendon community has really got behind the event. Essendon supporters have got involved as they did last year and for the first time we have a staff team involved in 2008.”
Event patron Adam Ramanauskas – who also assists in coordinating the event on behalf of Essendon Football Club - has in excess of 50 people in his team alone. 'Team Rama' is expected to raise in excess of $15,000 over the weekend.
Windy Hill will come alive over the 24-hour period of the Relay with loads of activities to keep everyone involved. The official opening of the event will be the Candlelight Ceremony which will be held at 9pm Friday night.
Musical entertainment will come in the form of Babba (from 9.30pm Friday night), Viva La Vida (from 1pm Saturday) and Darryl Cotton (from 3pm Saturday). There will be loads of activities to keep the kids amused with Clowns,
A 2007 signed Essendon Football Club Guernsey – complete with the signature of recently retired champion James Hird – will be auctioned off at 5.30pm on Saturday. It has already attracted an opening bid of $1000. A whole range of other auction items will also be up for grabs at that time.
People not already registered for the event, or part of a team, are still most welcome to take part in the weekend’s activities. All people need to do is visit the registration desk upon arrival at Windy Hill.
