Relay for Life gears up in Gisborne; registrations close February 15

The 10-week countdown is on to the 2025 Relay for Life, which will feature a new layout for the event at Showgrounds Park. Photo / Liam Clayton

Relay for Life is back and only 10 weeks away.

Gisborne-East Coast Cancer Society has designed a new layout at the A and P Showgrounds’ Poynter Park location and is ready to take more registrations for individuals and teams for the March 29-30 fundraiser, staged from noon to noon.

Cancer Society fundraising and events co-ordinator Shay Podjursky said the entertainment centre had been moved to the “front and centre” of the park and was “shaping up to provide a display of Gisborne’s best talent”.

Sixty camp sites are located around the walking track.

“I would love to see them all filled up,” Podjursky said. “The new layout provides better flow for the event and great space for all our teams.”

Teams and individuals can register online and must do so by February 15.

Donations towards the event can also be made online.

Podjursky is going the extra distance.

Team Kotahitanga at last year's Relay for Life in Gisborne. The 2025 edition is being held on March 29-30. Photo / Liam Clayton

From next week, she will be available at the Cancer Society base (718 Gladstone Rd) - on Tuesdays from 11am to 1pm and Wednesdays from 5pm to 6pm - to offer assistance to anyone who requires it.

“I will be here with a laptop ready to help teams or individuals register and take payments ($15 per person),” she said.

“It will be like a drop-in centre. We welcome anybody to call in and get help with registration, checking out volunteering roles or asking any questions they might have.”

Gisborne-East Coast Cancer Society is aiming to raise $120,000 from this year’s Relay for Life.

“We have such a wonderful and supportive community - from our teams out there fundraising to the many local businesses and groups who provide sponsorship or donations to those volunteering their time and expertise,” Podjursky said.

“We really appreciate everybody that chips in to do their bit in creating a really successful community event.”