Between 45 teams and 473 participants, a provisional total of $65,000 was raised for the Cancer Council’s research, prevention, information and support services.

“For the last three Relay’s, Mudgee has been the highest fundraiser per capita in the Central West, which is phenomenal,” NSW Cancer Council western region representative Kat Hodges said. 

As a reminder of one of the reasons to take part in the event, a small sign pointed out to walkers that, in the two years since the last event approximately 370 people in the region have been diagnosed with cancer. But as the number of people given the bad news increases, the number surviving is also on the rise.

“To every single person whose participated, I want to say a huge thanks to you all. Your passion and enthusiasm is inspiring and you’re all helping us make a difference to those affected by cancer and our mission to beat cancer,” Ms Hodges said.

“We’ve all been here to celebrate survivors, remember loved ones we’ve lost to cancer, to fight back against this insidious disease and to bring hope to those facing diagnosis. All of that money is helping reach a cancer-free future.”

Funds raised are invested into Cancer Council’s research as well as support programs for local people affected by cancer such as Transport to Treatment, Living Well After Cancer, the 13 11 20 helpline, and community action/prevention programs.

The event recognises those who’ve battled cancer, those still battling and the people who look after them with the Survivors and Carers lap and afternoon tea.

Western NSW Local Health District medical oncologist Dr Florian Honeyball was the guest speaker and said, thanks to fundraisers such as the Relay for Life there’s certainly reasons to be optimistic.

With better treatment and new drugs being trialed Dr Honeyball gave melanoma as an example of an area where progress has been made.

“Cancer is a scourge on our society, we’ve all been touched by it and it’s the reason why we’re all here. In our community one in three people will have cancer,” he said.

“And as we all get older cancer becomes more common.

“At the moment we’re making great strides in terms of treatment, the Cancer Council are working towards research and trying to help people living with cancer and their carers.

“Now in Australia 67 per cent of people diagnosed with cancer get a cure, even looking at a few years ago that’s gone up three per cent which may not sound like a lot but when you consider the hundreds of thousands diagnosed that turns into a lot of people living through cancer.”

Dr Honeyball also pointed to work being done locally with cancer care and survivorship care which is aiming to improve psychological and physical well being when people come out the other side.

Dr Honeyball said with Mudgee expecting a new hospital, there would be a new chemotherapy unit attached with its own waiting room to minimise the risk of infection from other patients.

He also spoke about the new Western Cancer Centre opening in Dubbo, which would have a linear accelerator, as well as PET scanner, which no location in the Central West has and should be up and running in the first quarter of 2020.

“Finally that’s being addressed and it will make the geographical journey a lot easier for people from Mudgee and Gulgong. It will turn what used to be a weekly stay into, for some people, what could be a day trip.”

As night fell on Saturday the Relay grew quiet and lights were dimmed for the Hope Ceremony and Lap of Remembrance, to honour those who lost their battle with cancer.

Donations to the Mudgee and District Relay For Life are still being accepted online at fundraising.cancer.org.au/mudgee2018