From Castlebar - County Mayo -

Alison Laredo
Relay for Life Castlebar 2012
By Relay for Life Castlebar
21, Sep 2012 - 08:52

A massive big thank you to all who took part in Relay for Life Castlebar which took place last weekend in the TF Royal Theatre.

Something very special happened over those 24hrs.

Brave survivors of cancer, wearing their purple t-shirts opened the 24hr event by walking the opening lap - their honesty and bravery were inspirational and set the tone for the event.

All of the 21 teams arrived, set up their stall and as soon as the clock started ticking, off they took and never left that track empty for all of the 24hrs, reminding us that cancer never sleeps.

Neighbours chatted and got to know one another again; work colleagues became close teams bonded by Relay; young people laughed, played games, flirted and sumo wrestled; kids ran about playing and fell asleep on grandad's lap.

Meanwhile ALL took a turn on the track - that track , somehow linked everybody there. Some left on Sat evening, returned on Sun and there was that track, still flowing, still full of people chatting, having deep conversations, renewing acquaintances.

Sat evening saw the Candle of Hope ceremony - for about 20 minutes you could hear a pin drop in that vast theatre. As the 1500 candles were being lit all that could be heard was the click, click,click of the lighters. To the wonderful voice of Elaine Madden and music of Catherine Murphy, all remembered their near and dear as the candles fickered in the white bags and the word hope was spelled out in candlelight. There was hardly a dry eye in the place but nobody was alone with their tears. As the lights came back up, the track took on life again and people began to walk naturally around the track reminding us that cancer never sleeps.

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Committee of Relay for Life Castlebar

 

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Candle bags with personal messages and pictures

 

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Survivors of cancer in their purple t-shirts

 

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Up Mayo!

 

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During the Candle of Hope Ceremony

 

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Beat the Buzzer

 

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Jen Hunt, who brought Relay for Life to Castlebar

 

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During the Candle of Hope Ceremony

 

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One of the many entertainers

 

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Walking the track - a member of one of the three teams from Baxter Healthcare

 

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Team Breda's Babes

 

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Team 'Saved by the Balls' raising awareness around testicular cancer

 

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Mark from team 'Giraffes Can't Dance' got half his hair and half his beard shaved in aid of Relay.

 

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Team Spirit raising awareness around bowel cancer

 

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One of the many entertainers

 

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Cancer survivors walking the track in the opening lap to launch Relay.

 

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The Mighty Murphy team from Dublin

 

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Cancer survivors inspiring Hope.

 

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One of the many entertainers

 

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Two brothers

 

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Walking the track

 

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Two of The Mighty Murphy team from Dublin with mayor Brendan Heneghan and Jen Hunt.

 

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How fast can you put the potatoes in the bucket???

 

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The young cancer survivor who cut the ribbon to open Relay for Life Castlebar

 


Check out Alison Laredo's Website



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