Organisers of the Kiama Relay for Life don’t know if the weather enticed people to stay indoors over the weekend but numbers were down on last year.
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The annual fundraiser for the Cancer Council only attracted 33 teams, around 350 participants, to walk in relay for 24 hours around the Kiama Leisure Centre oval.
Last year there were more than 500 participants.
Cancer Council spokesman Terry Deegan said it was great to see teams that have been there since the beginning seven years ago still participating but the event may need a shake up in 2017.
“Still a good event but certainly we’ll be looking to consider changing it up a little bit next year, what that looks like we’re not sure, but just to see if we can spark a bit of interest,” he said.
When speaking with the Illawarra Mercury Mr Deegan said over $40,000 had been raised, though the final number would be more likely around $50,000.
“Minamurra Mates”, a group of nine women who have all lost loved ones to cancer or watching friends go through it, were the top fundraisers with over $5200.
Eighty per cent of that was raised by one member alone, 17-year-old Naomi Robinson who has an intellectual disability.
The lively young woman was proud to have raised $4646 in 2016, her fifth year participating.
Miss Robinson said many cakes and lamingtons were sold in the lead up to the weekend. Her mother Karen was very proud.
The event began at 9:30am on Saturday with a “Carers and Survivors” lap with nearly 80 taking part, including Frank Wye.
The 74-year-old has had a tough 12 months with two heart attacks, three strokes, kidney failure and pneumonia followed by a cancer diagnosis.
Money raised will go to the transport service – which is highly utilised by people on the southern Illawarra to get to Wollongong or St George Hospitals for treatment, and prevention programs.