Relay means hope (From The Oxford Times)

Relay means hope

10:02am Monday 29th June 2009 in

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SCORES of fundraisers walked more than 1,000 miles between them over a 24-hour period — and helped raise thousands of pounds for cancer sufferers.

Witney Rugby Football Club, in Hailey, hosted 140 walkers in ten teams on the weekend, who took part in a Relay For Life for Cancer Research UK.

The event was opened by Witney MP David Cameron and the Lord Lieutenant for Oxfordshire Tim Stevenson at noon on Saturday. The event finished 24 hours later.

Organiser, Martine Young, 37, of Corn Street, Witney, said: “It’s the second time we have organised the event at the club. Last year was a great success, so we decided to do it again this year.

“Teams of people take turns to walk around the pitches non-stop for 24 hours. You must always have at least one person from each team walking.”

Participants pitched tents to catch some sleep and braved searing temperatures, while live music, stalls, tea, and cake stands and a car boot sale helped bring in supporters and raise extra money. After the event, Mrs Young said: “There was a great sense of community spirit — a really nice and relaxed atmosphere. Some people ran a few laps to burn off the cakes, but it was quite a chilled event.”

Fourteen people walking constantly for 24 hours at an average speed of 3mph would cover 1,008 miles.

So far, fundraisers have collected a little more than £10,000.