Over 500 Narrabri locals trudged throughout the night in the fight against cancer on the weekend, as they walked around Collins Park in the Namoi Valley’s Relay For Life.
The event kicked-off on Saturday with Member for Parkes, Mark Coulton joining Narrabri Shire Mayor Cr. Conrad Bolton and Cr. Les Knox in the official opening ceremony.
All participants had their personalreasons for being a part of the event, but were united in a single purpose - to raise awareness and funds for the cause.
Local man, James Stuart, was an inspiration to many as he walked around the oval in the early hours of Sunday morning, without a break, to complete 200 laps.
Another, Philip Foxe, who is confined to a wheelchair and also partially blind, was encouraged by hundreds of admirers as he walked an entire lap of the 300m oval, supported by a walker frame and carer Sandy Tapscott and his physical trainer Jaspreet Singh.
“On behalf of Cancer Council NSW, we would like to thank the entire Namoi Valley community for their support, determination and passion on the weekend,” said a spokesperson from the Cancer Council this week.
“Our provisional fundraising total is $40,000 which is massive for a rural town such as Narrabri.
“It shows what results can occur when a community comes together, even in the rain.”
While an exact figure from the weekend’s event still won’t be known for a few weeks, the funds raised from the relay will help provide support for cancer patients and their families in the region.