Relay For Life Actual dates for 2009 have not yet been finalised. They will be shown here as soon as they are known. HOBART: Saturday and Sunday February 2009 LAUNCESTON: Saturday and Sunday March 2009 PENGUIN: Saturday and Sunday March 2009 EAST COAST: Saturday and Sunday March 2009

> How Relay For Life began > How the Relay works > What you can do > What happens on the day > Support and information services funded by Relay For Life > Register > Make a donation Celebrate, remember and hope - Relay For Life in Tasmania When Relay For Life was first held in Tasmania in 2001, it had a 10-year goal to raise $1 per head of Tasmania’s population. It is an indication of the event’s success that we have already reached that goal. The event – held each year in Hobart, Launceston and Penguin – has engaged individuals, families and businesses with its sense of purpose and of fun. These are busy people, who have a multitude of demands on their time and energy. Relay For Life provides an excellent opportunity to support a charity and engage in community activities in a supervised environment. Over the last six years (2001-2006), Relay For Life has: • raised more than $2.8 million (gross) for cancer support and information services provided by The Cancer Council Tasmania. • attracted the involvement of 20,853 people in 1123 teams statewide, reflecting the true community appeal of the event. A national fundraising record Since 2004, Relay For Life Tasmania has been the only cancer fundraising event held anywhere in Australia that raises more than $1 per head of state population. The three-event series raised more than $721,000 (gross) in 2006. It has captured the hearts of Tasmanians across the state and raised funds for The Cancer Council’s statewide support and information services (see below for more information about services funded through Relay).   Keeping our costs low Thanks to the dedication of our volunteer committees and the commitment of our sponsors, administrative costs for Relay For Life 2006 were around 12%. That means that 88 cents in every $1 raised through Relay goes to funding statewide support and information services – an excellent return for the donated dollar. The Relay For Life partnership The Relay For Life partnership proposed between your community and The Cancer Council Tasmania has a proven track record the world over. The Cancer Council provides administrative support to the organising committee and the Relay For Life event. How Relay For Life began In May 1985, Dr Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon and avid runner, took the first step of his 24-hour walk/run around a track in Tacoma, Washington. He clocked 83 miles, raising $27,000 to support the American Cancer Society. The following year, 220 supporters on 19 teams joined Dr Klatt in this overnight event, and the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life was born. Relay For Life is now the world's largest cancer fundraising event and over the past 20 years, Relay has spread to 4,200 communities in the United States. Relays are now also operating or planned in Australia, Argentina, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, the Honduras, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Portugal, South Africa, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and Venezuela. What began as one man’s statement in the fight against cancer has led to the development of a worldwide event to help banish cancer.

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> How the Relay works

Over 24 hours, Relay For Life team members take turns walking or running on a track. You can walk in groups to make it more fun. Some team members may do more laps than others, it doesn’t matter - just try to have at least one person from your team always on the track.

Each team needs 10 to 15 members. There’s a $12 entry fee for each team member to cover costs, and each member is asked to try to raise $100 in sponsorship or donations. There may be a prize for the team and individual male and female participants who complete the most laps.

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> What you can do

Join a team; sponsor a person, a team or your local Relay For Life event; volunteer your services (eg bands); donate goods needed on the day; join a local organising committee.Or you can form your own team: 10 to 15 people of all ages and abilities from your family and friends, workplace, club, community group or school. (Teams with children must also have at least two adults present at all times).

Bring your tent and be part of a fantastic, carnival-style team event complete with live entertainment, dress themes, spot prizes, games, massages and much more!There is a Survivor’s Walk where cancer survivors and their carers begin the relay with a ceremonial lap of honour. A Candlelight Ceremony of Hope is held just after sunset. You don’t have to be in a Relay For Life team to take part in the Survivor’s Walk or the Candlelight Ceremony – the whole community is invited. For more information, see Take part in a Relay.

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> Organise a Relay near you

The Cancer Council works with local communities to stage Relay For Life events at three sites throughout Tasmania. Our staff look after state promotional and sponsorship opportunities, leaving the local organisers to do what they do best: involve the local community. For more information contact Colin Kemp (Hobart Relay), Jennifer Lyall (Launceston Relay) or Russell Freeland (Penguin Relay), or phone 1300 65 65 85.

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> Take part in a Relay

Getting involved

• Gather a team and become a team captain
  Join a team that needs more team members
  Take part in the Survivors’ Walk
  Attend the Candlelight Ceremony of Hope
  Sponsor a person, team or your local Relay event
  Volunteer your services - for example bands, singers and fitness leaders
  Make a donation of money or in-kind support
• Join the local Organising Committee.

• Teams of 10-15 people – all ages and abilities
  Teams with children must be supervised by at least two adult team members
  $12 entry fee per team member (includes GST) – minimum $100 fee on registration
  We send all correspondence and deliveries to the team captain
  Team captains attend a briefing session held before each event - team members are also encouraged to attend
• Lap-counting forms are provided on the day.

• Team goal $1000 - $1500 (or more!)
  Each team member is asked to raise $100 (in addition to their $12 entry fee)
  Prizes may be offered for the individual and team that raises the most money
  Receipt books for tax-deductible donations will be sent to team captains when the team registration form and fee is received
  Team members collect donations and sponsorship and bank these funds before the event
  Team captains will be sent bank deposit slips to directly deposit team member funds into The Cancer Council Tasmania's Relay For Life bank account
  All money should be sent to The Cancer Council or banked by the Wednesday before the local event
  For security, cash funds should not be taken to the event
• ‘ Provisional’ fundraising totals and prize winners will be announced at the Closing Ceremony.

• Anything goes!
  Run your own raffle
  Conduct a head shave
  Go dollar-for-dollar with your employer
  Obtain pledges per lap or per hour completed, or just a flat donation
  Erect a sponsor/donor’s banner at the event
  Screen print donor or sponsor names on the back of team t-shirts
  Direct debit from team member payroll to the Relay For Life account to raise your $100
  Toilet paper coin line (5 cents)
  Corporate challenge to ensure team equity and income
  Schools challenge
  Car boot sale (for all team captains)
• Approach local business enterprises with a proposal that their clients be asked to round up the monthly accounts to whole dollar amounts - the increased funds can be donated to The Cancer Council

• Bring a small or family tent to relax and sleep on the track infield
• Organise a team dinner party at the track
• Bring your own food or buy it there
• Dress for all seasons: fun, run/walk, sleep, stay warm and keep cool
• Think SunSmart: slip, slop and slap
• Drink plenty of fluid: moderate alcohol consumption only
• Get some sleep before and during Relay
• Relay For Life is a ‘smoke free’ zone
• Sorry, no pets allowed at the venue
• Children must be supervised at all times
• Noise and light curfew will apply from late evening until early morning

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The Cancer Council Tasmania has four regional Cancer Support Centres operating in Hobart, Launceston, Burnie and Devonport. As well as providing support and information for their surrounding regions, the centres are the delivery hub for local fundraising and health promotion activities. They are open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, with no appointment necessary, for individuals seeking support and/or information. Trained volunteer staff underpin the delivery of support and information activities and form the ‘front line’ for centre services.

In 2004-2005, the demand for support services and information continued to grow, with almost 10,000 Tasmanians visiting one of our four regional Cancer Support Centres. The centres took more than 16,000 phone calls, and a further 700 calls were made to The Cancer Council Helpline. More than 24,000 information resources covering all aspects of cancer were distributed free of charge through The Cancer Council’s support centres and external organisations.

Support groups
Support groups are both for people with cancer and their family members, and generally meet on a monthly basis. The safe environment of a support group fosters discussion and sharing of ideas. It is also an opportunity to explore coping strategies, stress management and issues relating to individuals’ cancer.

Living with Cancer education programs
Living with Cancer is an 8-week program in which participants have the opportunity to develop skills to enhance quality of life as well as learn about resources and support networks in their communities and exchange information with other participants.

The Look Good Feel Better program
Look Good Feel Better workshops are offered to women who are currently undergoing cancer treatment. The workshops are supported by the cosmetics industry.

The Cancer Council Helpline (13 11 20)
The Cancer Council Helpline provides information about cancer and support services for the cost of a local call. Its primary role is to identify the specific needs of the caller and link them to the best possible source of assistance.

Cancer Connect
Cancer Connect is a peer support program that links a person needing support with a trained support volunteer who has been through a similar experience. This enables a person to talk to someone who knows what it’s like to be diagnosed with cancer, someone who can provide encouragement and hope.

Information about cancer
The provision of up-to-date, evidence-based and relevant information is an integral part of providing support to those dealing with a cancer diagnosis, and this aspect of service delivery has expanded considerably in the last few years as community awareness of our services has grown.

Information resources available at each of our Cancer Support Centres or via The Cancer Council Helpline include videos, booklets, brochures, pamphlets and information sheets that provide details on all aspects of cancer ranging from prevention, early detection and diagnosis through to treatment.

As well as being available to the general community, The Cancer Council’s information resources are distributed to clinicians, treatment centres, hospitals and health centres.

Cancer PLUS
Cancer PLUS is a Tasmanian program set up by The Cancer Council to educate, support, serve and advocate for families of children with cancer, survivors of childhood cancer, and the professionals who care for them.

• 2008 Team Member Form
• 2008 Team Registration Form
• 2008 Relay Rules
• 2008 Conditions of Entry

Disclaimer
www.cancertas.org.au last updated 3 July 2008