Relay for Life closes in on target

After a few years spent impacted by the pandemic and poor weather, Relay for Life was back in full force late last month, with a 12-hour event bringing in both funds and smiles. Despite an initially slow response, Penrith Relay for Life Committee Chair Chris Planer said the day ended up involving 350 relayers, 36 teams, and 57 survivors and carers – plus plenty of people flocking in to take look at all the action.

“The event was really, really positive,” he said.

“The vibe around the place was great, people liked that it was back at the Paceway, the weather was beautiful, and people were able to get around the track without wheeling or walking through mud like the year before!”

A highlight for Planer was seeing people of all ages supporting the cause – including some of our youngest community members.

“We had a young boy who was only five-years-old, and he, in support of a school friend who had recently been diagnosed with leukemia, did a head shave,” he said.

“I thought that was a really amazing, touching experience. You hear about a lot of older people who pass from cancer, and a lot of people in their late 20s and 30s, but for a little boy to be touched enough to go and do something like that, and not worry about the fact that he’s probably going to have friends at school say ‘What happened to your hair?’ is amazing.”

Planer said the day couldn’t have happened without the incredible

Relay for Life team working behind the scenes.

“The day wouldn’t have been as successful as it was without the support of Penrith Paceway, Penrith Council getting behind us, and all of our other sponsors who really helped us get it up and running,” he said.

“The committee members and all of the wonderful volunteers on the day that made it happen also need to be commended for all the effort they’ve put in over the last six months.”

Whilst they’ve raised just over $57,000 so far, Planer has no doubt they’ll cross the line on their $60,000 goal in the coming days.

“I’m really pleased that we will reach our target this year, so hopefully next year we can set an even higher goal,” he said.

Though the new 12-hour format was a success, Planer has even higher hopes for the coming years.

“It’s been a rocky few years, and it’s difficult to say whether it will be a 24-hour event again, but that will be the biggest hope, and the ultimate goal for the committee – it just has to have that continued support of the community,” he said.

For sponsorship enquiries, contact Bobbie.JoCrosland@nswcc.org.au.

Local residents are being urged to donate their old mobile phones to help people escaping domestic violence.

Collection boxes have been set up at various locations around Penrith, with phones and chargers able to be donated.

These will be donated to DV Safe Phone, a registered charity dedicated to providing a lifeline for those dealing with domestic violence.

The phones will be refurbished and distributed to government agencies and support services that gift them to victims.

Penrith Mayor Tricia Hitchen encouraged residents to donate a device as there are vulnerable, unsafe community members who need urgent access to support.

“There were 1,077 reported instances of domestic violence in the Penrith Local Government Area in 2022 alone which proves domestic and family violence does not discriminate and the issue is impacting our community,” she said.

“We all have a drawer at home filled with old technology – that unused phone might be what your friend, relative or neighbour needs to call emergency services or a support network when they plan to escape domestic violence.

“I am proud of our Council for continuing to be proactive in this space and I encourage everyone, from our staff to our many residents, to help save another by dropping off a phone at one of our collection points.”

DV Safe Phone CEO Ashton Wood said Penrith is one of the first councils in the state to be supporting the organisation’s work, which has seen more than 5,000 phones delivered to domestic violence victims in three years.

“We are proud to partner with Penrith City Council. Having organisations like them collect phones on our behalf is vital to the service we provide,” Wood said.

“We encourage everyone to drop their old phones into their office and help ensure that no call for help goes unheard. Your old phone could save a life of a victim of domestic violence here in Australia.”

To see where your nearest collection box is, visit penrith.city/dvsafephone.

To find out more about the organisation Council is supporting, go to dvsafephone.org.