Wanganui Cancer Society Relay For Life profits rise in 2018

The addition of Concert for a Cause has helped to raise profits for Relay For Life. Pictured here is Whanganui band Harmony Showdown. Photo / Bevan Conley

The numbers have been crunched and the final figure can now be revealed.

The Cancer Society made a profit of $53,906.04 from this year's Whanganui Relay For Life, $10,000 more than last year.

"Wow, the funds just kept coming in," said fundraising co-ordinator Annette Cox.

"We wish to thank all of our major sponsors and local businesses that supported us. Relay For Life would have cost us over $40,000.00 to run without their generous support."

The total raised was $71,139.04 before taking expenses into account.

The funds go towards operational costs, transport costs for patients to appointments, one-on-one support and other support people seek through the Cancer Society centre.

More than 700 people attended the 2018 Wanganui-Rangitikei-Waimarino Cancer Society Relay For Life and 39 teams took part, up from 28 in 2017.

In mid-March, Cox said people were a bit apprehensive about having to pay to get into Cooks Gardens to see the relay and Concert for a Cause.

However the concert, headlined by Auckland band Motel California, brought in an additional $5500.

"The local bands gave us their time for free and were fantastic and because we had Motel California as a headlining act we had the sound system and stage set up for a concert and it sounded great," Cox said.

"We are always having to try new initiatives to keep things exciting and fresh."

The next big fundraiser for the Cancer Society is JUGS - Just Us Girls (or guys) and runs throughout June.

It is an opportunity for groups to get together and host an event of their choice. Funds can be raised through charging a participation fee or asking for donations.

In the meantime, the Wanganui Cancer Society hosted a premier movie night at the Embassy 3 Cinema.

Audience members were treated to nibbles and mocktails before watching a screening of Tully - and one lucky raffle winner got to do so from the comfort of a reclining armchair.

The event raised $1020.