Committee chairman Carl Friedlieb said $407,000 collected to date and 2800 participants showed clearly the relay stretched far beyond 24 hours.

“It’s not just one weekend,” he said. “It really is a six to eight month journey where cancer survivors and carers can come together and unite for the cause of cancer, to rid it from our society.” 

At Sunday’s Fightback closing ceremony, Mr Friedlieb announced he would step down from his role after seven years as chairman.

“It was just the right time to go,” he said. “The Border community have taken off with Relay for Life now, it’s in very safe hands.”

Saturday’s weather at Birallee Park, Wodonga, proved cooler than recent relays and the strong wind forced a few teams to remove tent coverings, rather than keep battling to retain them.

For it was a weekend reserved for bigger battles. 

Some fought fatigue as they jogged laps, walked towards a lengthy goal or raised money through exercises on command. Others vied in the competitive events like Miss Relay Pageant – always a fashion highlight – best campsite, best decorated hat and bra/undies and the inaugural Miss Genesis Challenge women’s obstacle course.

But despite any human rivalries, nobody forgot the common enemy, the disease expected to take more than 38,000 Australian lives this year.

Karl Jacka, who shared the stage at Saturday evening’s Hope Ceremony with his mother, 2016 Relay Hero Sharon Jacka, urged people always to investigate any queries about their health.

“I’m in the fight now and I’m probably one of the lucky ones,” Mr Jacka said as he described his diagnosis in July and ongoing treatment.

“Everyone’s journey is different, but the common thing is you need that support, you need that love, you need that care.”