Levin group take part in Relay For Life to support Cancer Society

Horowhenua participants in the 2019 Relay for Life.

A Levin contingent took part in this year's Relay For Life, held at Palmerston North's Hokowhitu Domain last weekend.

Relay For Life is a fundraising community event for the Cancer Society aimed at celebrating and remembering the lives of those who have been affected by cancer.

Teams of people take part by walking or running a track in relay style, with each team required to have one participant on the the track at all times throughout the overnight long-distance event.

A team of 16 Horowhenua participants, led by Sue Cleland, took part in the event, successfully completing a 24-hour walk where they took turns to complete 400 metre circuits of a track.

Cleland said the walkers completed three or four laps each at a time during the daytime before switching with someone else, but that during the night hours they individually completed walking stints of around an hour.

"Cancer doesn't sleep, and that's what we have to remember," she said.

The team camped nearby and took naps in between walking.

Cleland said the Levin group was proud to have completed a range of successful fundraising ventures over the past year, helping to fund cancer support and research in Horowhenua.

They raised a total of $7000 by holding a fashion parade, quiz night and large raffle, as well as some sponsorship for the relay.

"For a small town like Levin, that's huge," she said.

"[Relay For Life] was a celebration of a lot of hard work, it was a big, fun atmosphere."

Cleland said it was also important to celebrate cancer survivors as well as those who had passed away, as it showed the sense of hope the group focused on in their work.

Relay For Life is largely organised by volunteer committees supported by the Cancer Society, the organisation said.

"[It] brings teams of friends, work colleagues and families together in a fun, carnival like atmosphere to fundraise for the Cancer Society. It is a time to celebrate and remember loved ones affected by cancer - and to fight back by raising awareness and funds."