By BRIDGET SCOTT
‘PURPLE blood’ will run thick through the veins of many in the next couple of weeks as the annual Cranbourne-Narre Warren Relay for Life draws close.
Relay chairwoman Nicole Ryan said she “just loves it” and it is a real passion of her own.“When you’re in relay, people say you have purple blood because it runs through you,” she said.
“I feel like I have that run through me.”
Nicole Ryan founded the Cranbourne-Narre Warren Relay for Life event three years ago and said she has relayed for 10 years now.
“My father was diagnosed 10 years ago with cancer, and for us it was a way to get him talking,” she said.
Prior to the Cranbourne-Narre event, Ms Ryan had a team in the Casey Relay for Life.
She said her passion for the cause prompted her to start an event of her own.
For this first time, the event will be held at Casey Fields after it ran at the Cranbourne Racecourse the past two times.
“We outgrew it there,” Ms Ryan said.
The organiser said people could expect to be “blown out of the water” and numbers looked like they would be up on previous years.
City of Casey councillor Amanda Stapledon is a keen participant in this event and said she felt “privileged to be involved since its inception”.
“It really brings the community together,” she said.
“You only have to be there to understand its meaning … so many people wait for this event to come around.”
Councillor Stapledon said she was happy to help the committee find a new location for the event.
“That’s the beauty of being part of a community, you can help drive positive outcomes,” she said.
With just over a week to go, the committee is in full swing to plan a bigger and better event than ever before.
At only 18 years of age, Ash Leicester from Cranbourne is part of the committee and helps to co-ordinate the children’s activities.
Ash said she first became involved with the Cardinia Relay for Life event and enjoyed being able to help people.
The Cranbourne-Narre Warren Relay for Life will take place at Casey Fields on 8 and 9 November.
