Latrobe Valley traders will transform their shopfronts into a bold display of all things purple next week in a bid to raise awareness of a major Cancer Council Victoria fundraiser.
The Latrobe Relay for Life will be held at Churchill’s Gaskin Park on 17 and 18 October, where teams camp overnight and members take it in turns walking around the track.
“Purple is the colour of all cancers and ‘paint the towns purple’ promotes not just Relay for Life, but the Cancer Council,” Latrobe Relay for Life committee chair Sue Van Heurck said.
Twenty-seven teams have registered for the Latrobe relay so far and organisers are calling for more to get on board.
Member of the ‘Family for Life’ team Kerry McKenzie, who has set up a purple display in the window of her Morwell business New City Furniture, said she started taking part in the relay last year after losing her mother-in-law and grandmother to cancer.
“We’ve had so many family and friends go through cancer, some have survived and some have not. It’s a strong thing for our family,” Ms McKenzie said.
“Relay brings us together and helps us remember our family and friends.
“This year we are hoping to achieve awareness and hoping we’ll get a lot of people behind us.”
Ms Van Heurck said organisers were also calling for survivors of cancer and carers of those with cancer to take part in the first lap of the relay, followed by a special afternoon tea.
Any business wanting to take part in ‘paint the towns purple’ can phone Ms Van Heurck on 0407 334 129.
To register a team for Latrobe Relay for Life, visit www.relayforlife.org.au/ and search for ‘Latrobe’.
