Cousins Lara Notarianni, left, and Alysha Pickup are taking part in the Shellharbour Relay for Life in honour of the latter's mother, who died from cancer. Picture: PAUL JONES
ERNIE'S Yellow Roses will be in full bloom this weekend when they participate in the Shellharbour Relay for Life.
"I'll be doing it in memory of my mum," Alysha Pickup said of her team for the event.
"I'll be thinking of her, and hopefully she's looking down on us and being proud of what we're doing."
Following the success of the inaugural Shellharbour Relay for Life in May last year, the annual fund-raiser will this time take place on March 9-10 at the Albion Park Showground.
The Shellharbour Relay for Life 2012 saw the community raising in excess of $79,000 through the generosity and spirit of more than 500 participants and 40 teams.
The event raises funds for cancer patients, carers, their family and friends within the Shellharbour City community, as well as for the work of the Cancer Council NSW.
Ernie's Yellow Roses raised $6600 last year, more than any other team taking part in the Shellharbour event.
The team is named in honour of Ms Pickup's mother Erminia, nicknamed "Ernie", who died of lung and liver cancer in October 2011. Yellow roses were her favourite flower.
Ms Pickup, 25, formerly of Albion Park and now living in Kiama, said the idea to form the team came from herself and brother Aaron.
"As soon as we mentioned it, everyone got on board," she said.
"All the relatives got involved.
"Everyone has been great, helping us raise funds and all our workplaces got on board."
That includes Ms Pickup's cousin Lara Notarianni, 20, of Albion Park.
"I'll be walking in memory of her and with the idea of raising enough money so another family doesn't go through what we had to," Ms Notarianni said.
While the pair joked about retaining the bragging rights associated with being the top fund-raising team, they just hoped that the community supported the event, regardless of which team they donated to.
"We want to better that [amount] this year, but hopefully everyone just gets involved," Ms Pickup said.
"Last year it was freezing, but amazing. It's just a chance to remember my mum, reflect on her life and do it together as a family."
Relay For Life is an outdoor and overnight fund-raising event where teams of up to 20 people take turns to walk around a local oval.
For further information, phone 4223 0200 or visit the relay.cancercouncil.com.au/2013/shellharbour_2013/ website.