18 November 2024
Students and staff from Warwick Senior High School certainly put their best feet forward at this year’s Cancer Council WA’s Relay for Life.
Over a weekend in mid-October, the team of 40 students, plus nine staff, took part in the annual event, held at HBF Arena Joondalup.
Warwick Senior High School staff and students completed 627 laps at Relay for Life.
The 24-hour challenge raises vital funds for Cancer Council WA’s research, prevention and support services.
Participation in this year’s event was especially momentous for Warwick Senior High School. Not only was the school named the second highest fundraising team of the event, raising more than $16,500; it was also awarded the prestigious Spirit of Relay award, in honour of participating in the Relay for Life for more than 10 years and the Warwick Senior High School community has raised an impressive $80,000 over the past decade.
To top this off, this year’s dedicated team completed the most laps run by a team during the overnight event, with a total of 627 laps. This equates to more than 250 km!
Year 12 student and 2024 School Captain of Warwick Senior High School, Taj Bond has participated in Warwick Senior High School’s Relay for Life team for the past three years.
“Relay for Life is more than just an event for me—it’s an opportunity to come together as a community, meet new people, and reflect on the impact of cancer. It’s a chance to honour those affected by this disease and the caregivers who provide unwavering support,” Taj said.
“Cancer is not an easy battle to face, and through participating in Relay for Life, I can push myself to my limits—both physically and mentally.
The school raised more than $16,500 for Cancer Council WA.
“While the challenges I endure during the event can’t compare to the struggles of living with cancer, it allows me to gain a small insight into the perseverance and strength required by those who fight this disease every day.”.
English Teacher Pia Faletti, who, along with staff members Lou Kirkby and Jody Weaver, has participated in the Race for Life for eight years, commended the students who took part in the challenge.
“Students learnt a great deal about resilience and the ability of mindset to overcome the challenges that the event inevitably threw at them,” she said.
“Our students love this event so much that we now have past students show up during the event, or since having left school, have joined or formed teams of their own to participate in.
“A big thank you to our staff and students who were there over the weekend and to those who have generously donated.”
Head of Student Services (lower school) and team captain Lou Kirkby, said that fundraising this year was a whole school effort.
"The student council donated funds raised from a pyjama day and free dress day, the house captains donated funds from the house festival, and the cleaning staff raised $700 from recycling Containers for Change items that they collected from school bins over the past year,” she said.
"Many members of staff and students came down during the event to bring sustenance and walk or run a lap or two.”
You can still help the Warwick Senior High School Relay for Life team reach this year's fundraising target of $20,000. Make a donation though their Relay for Life webpage.