Our event is officially the biggest relay in Australia, recognition of the importance the community places of finding a cure for cancer.

Participants at Wodonga’s Birallee Park on Sunday morning were told this year’s event had raised $407,000 – and counting.

That, from a total population of about 110,000 – $4 for every woman, man and child on the Border.

Almost 3000 people registered for this year’s relay, many walking or running for loved ones, fighting their own personal battles against cancer, or remembering those family and friends having already been taken by the disease.

The Cancer Council Australia website estimates about 130,500 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in Australia this year and tips the number to reach 150,000 within five years.

It is a leading cause of death in Australia – more than 44,000 people died from cancer in 2013. Cancer accounted for about 3 in 10 deaths in Australia.

As long as events such as Relay for Life continue the fight against cancer will be in the spotlight, and the Border event has been in good hands.

Committee chairman Carl Friedlieb says the fundraising campaign is a year-round process and teams have embraced the campaign.

In 2016 Team Jacka set the fund-raising pace by contributing $65,000. Cancer survivor Sharon Jacka was definitely a fitting choice to be this year’s Relay Hero.

Her son, well-known and popular football coach Karl, spoke of his experiences battling stomach cancer.

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

His words were well received and thousands at Birallee Park show that support, love and care is there for those who need it.

Mr Friedlieb, who is standing down as chairman after seven years, was right when he said Sunday morning that everyone was there to fight against this terrible disease.

He also said that during his seven years the Border relay for Life had contributed $2.745m to the fight against cancer. 

An outstanding achievement.

It is certainly a good reason to feel proud, to be involved in the Border Relay for Life and to continue to fight back against cancer.