Call for more relayers

A team of Australian Tax Office (ATO) staff want local businesses, residents and community groups to get involved in a Relay For Life event at Etihad Stadium next year.

The Docklands-based staff held a corporate Relay For Life event at the stadium earlier this year, involving 450 ATO staff, friends and family.

ATO staff member and event volunteer Donna Ross said originally the team set itself the goal of raising $20,000 towards cancer research and ended up raising almost $90,0000.

Next year’s event will be held on February 5 at Etihad Stadium and organisers hope Docklands-based companies, small businesses, community groups and residents will put forward teams to take part, helping to raise funds and awareness.

Ms Ross said it would be great if they could double or triple the attendees at next year’s relay.

Fellow volunteer Viv Daniels added: “We would love for all the corporate businesses around Docklands to contribute a team.”

“If anyone is interested, we would love to hear from them,” she said.

Relay For Life is a community event, which involves teams of 10 to 15 people participating in a relay-style walk, with a team member walking at all times during the event.

Usually the events are held overnight, but the Docklands event is an eight-hour relay, starting in the afternoon and continuing into the evening.

The event isn’t ATO sponsored, but is being organised by a group of ATO staff.

Volunteer Cris Lumley said the long-term goal was for the event to be considered the Docklands Relay For Life.

The ATO volunteers wanted to make it clear that they are not asking for corporate sponsorship in their call for local businesses to get involved.

Rather, they just want more and more teams taking part in the event and working on ways to raise money for cancer research.

“And it’s a great opportunity to be able to get out on the ground at Etihad. How many people can say they’ve done that?” Ms Daniels said.

This year’s event featured performances by a range of bands, along with children’s entertainment and child-care, all made possible through in-kind donations.

Organisers are planning a similar model for next year’s event, with plenty to keep everyone entertained over the eight-hour relay.

They are seeking in-kind support in the form of entertainment or otherwise for next year’s event and encouraged anyone who wanted to help out to get in touch.

To express interest in offering support or signing up a team for next year’s Docklands Relay For Life contact Viv Daniels on 0401 711 360, Cris Lumley on 0400 341 137 or Donna Ross on 0421 616 034.