Garage sale boosts cancer cash

Masterton Tranzit raised almost $800 at their Bonanza Garage Sale on Saturday for the Cancer Society's Relay for Life.

Tranzit Relay for Life team member Kath Saxon said staff had put in nearly 40 hours of their own time to fundraise for the upcoming event. Friends and family of staff had also been helping with fundraising efforts.

She said staff were eager to participate because many had been affected by cancer themselves.

"The first time we did it [Relay for Life] was because one of the staff members was going through cancer.

"We've probably lost 10 people [to cancer] within the company in the last three years," she said.

The fundraiser, held at Tranzit Coachlines on Queen St, from 10am to 2pm, included a massive garage sale with household and office items, clothes, toys and books up for grabs.

Items were donated by staff and their families, and old Tranzit furniture was included.

Staff cooked a range of food from Greek and Indian to a Kiwi barbecue and kids were entertained by a ferris wheel, a clown and juggling.

For their next fundraiser, a Tranzit staff member will be driving a bus to the Tauherenikau races and charging $10 a person.

The Relay for Life will take place on February 23 at Queen Elizabeth Park in Masterton.

Relay for Life is a global movement to celebrate, remember and fight back against cancer. It costs $100 to register a team of up to 10 members. Extra members cost $10.

Teams are encouraged to set a fundraising goal and raise between $100 and $200 per team member.

Fundraising is completed before the event and can be achieved either individually or as a team.

During the relay at least one team member has to be on the track at all times.

Participants can camp overnight and stay for the whole event, or just visit and do a few laps.