Like many fundraising events, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the organisers of the Wollongong Relay for Life to improvise and adapt this year.
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Instead of walking laps around Beaton Park, this year the Cancer Council NSW is encouraging participants to 'Relay Your Way'.
Cancer Council NSW community relations co-ordinator for the Illawarra Kelly Dinnerville said this Saturday's 12-hour Relay would be "a little different than normal".
"We're not doing our usual 24 or 12-hour walk around the track," she said.
"We'll be doing what we're calling 'Relay Your Way', so our teams are getting involved by doing something themselves.
"It could be a walk around their local neighbourhood, or some people are holding picnics, and one group is doing a Relay on the rowing machines at their gym.
"So there's all sorts of different activities happening this year."
Organisers have set a $60,000 fundraising goal this year, with about $20,000 raised so far.
"It's been very difficult this year, as pretty much all of our events have been postponed or changed," Ms Dinnerville said.
"We've had to adapt. Originally we were looking at holding a big 20-year celebration of Wollongong Relay, and then we changed it with restrictions to having a hundred people at the track at a time.
"Then that was still looking like it was going to be too risky, so we went with 'Relay Your Way', where people could do their own thing at home, safely."
Ms Dinnerville said funds raised will go towards Cancer Council NSW's local support and prevention programs in the Illawarra, as well as other key programs including cancer research.
Saturday's Relay runs from 9am to 9pm.
Regular fixtures of the fundraiser, such as the opening ceremony and Hope ceremony, will also be streamed live from the Wollongong Relay for Life Facebook page.
For more information or to donate, click here. You can also still register to participate in the event.
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