Look after the planet Thousands to back life relay

from Cairns Local News July 14 2023

Tigers triumph in nail-biting football match

Unfortunately, I don’t have much to write about for this column this month as I have not been in the best of health for a while now spending a fair bit of time in our fantastic Cairns Hospital being prodded and probed, leaving no entry or exit unviolated.

Now, I fully understand that no one really likes being in poor health, but if you have to be, then this is the place to have to rely on.

The teams of medical professionals in the emergency department and the cancer care ward are the best which is especially true in context when you get reports about all the ambulance ramping and bed shortages and poor health services in other hospitals around the countryside and beyond.

By the time this is printed I should be at home getting ready to paint up and dress outrageously for the Relay for Life at Barlow Park tomorrow, starting at 2pm. One of my special guest judges for the many competitions that are going to be held during the afternoon and evening will be none other than my big little brother Kmart Travis. Now the big fella reckons that he has never done anything like this before, so I’m sure there’s gunna be heaps of fun to be had while raising money and support for an extremely important organisation and dedicated group of volunteers running a huge amount of activities right around this vast country. My one many hats off to all of them. Smiling is living, Wayne. l PARRAMATA

| Isaac Colman

Park

THOUSANDS of people are expected to fill Barlow Park tomorrow for Cancer Council Queensland’s annual Relay for Life.

The park will be aglow in purple and yellow as thousands of people gather together to support each other, and fight back against cancer.

Teams of people will be keeping a baton moving in relay-style run or walk for the entirety of eight hours and thirty minutes in support of those who are affected by cancer.

This year, the Far North Queensland Relay for Life Committee aims to raise at least $70,000 dollars to support Cancer Council’s research, prevention programs and support services.

The official face of the 2023 Far North Queensland Relay for Life event is local Wayne Marshall.

He was selected because of his contribution, commitment and his overall spirit towards these events, including his extravagant costumes.

Mr Marshall was diagnosed with melanoma in August of 2022, with the tumour being removed but still undergoing complications.

When the melanoma was removed from his shoulder, a lymphoid gland was sent for testing.

“Two weeks later I received an urgent call to go back to the doctors where I was told that all the melanoma was removed but unfortunately the lymphoid gland came back positive for stage 3 melanoma blood cancer,” Mr Marshall said.

“The hardest part of this journey was telling my family that, in fact, I’m not indestructible.”

Mr Marshall’s cancer journey became harder in March when doctors informed him that the melanoma blood cancer had progressed from stage 3 to stage 4. He was also diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma lung cancer. Despite his diagnosis, he remains in high spirits and is dedicated to helping raise awareness and essential funds for Cancer Council Queensland.

“I started with Relay for Life to help those impacted by cancer and since my diagnosis I freely tell others of my journey,” he said.

Presold Tickets available online at: www.cairnsshow.com.au until Tuesday 18th July at midnight.

AVAILABLE IN PERSON AT:

• Earlville Shopping Town Ticket Booth: From Monday 10th - Monday 17th July, 9am - 5pm

• Cairns Showgrounds (Main Gates) Ticket Booth: On Tuesday 18th July, 9am - 5pm

• Cairns Showgrounds: Wednesday 19th, Thursday 20th, and Friday 21st July, 9am - 9pm at all Cairns Show Gate Entrances during the Show