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Organiser Julie Knight, herself a cancer survivor, describes walking the lap as reward and recognition for what cancer survivors have been through.

It doesn’t matter if you’re still undergoing treatment for cancer, as long as you’re winning the battle, you deserve the applause.

“For the past three years I have walked that lap with my head held high, and it feels great,” she said.

The survivor lap kick-starts the 24-hour festival-like event, being held at Mackay Park on November 14.

“You don’t have to be registered with a team to participate in the survivor ceremony,” she said.

“I encourage all those in the community to make themselves available for this very important part of the event. These people are survivors and they deserve your applause.”

Moving on from the survivors’ ceremony is the hope ceremony, which gives participants an opportunity to remember loved ones by candlelight.

At Monday night’s meeting, chairwoman Sandra Barlow urged those gathered to ask themselves what had drawn them to the relay.

“Ask yourself, who will you relay for?” she said.

“It’s a sad fact, but the truth is that everyone in the Eurobodalla community will be touched by cancer at some point in their lives, be it through friends, family or work colleagues. Use that as your motivation.”

Pointing to various services available to shire people, which are funded in part by the funds raised at the Eurobodalla Relay for Life, The Cancer Council’s Fran Horne said it was important for local people to support their neighbours.

“It’s important to understand that this is a local event and that the majority of the money raised goes toward programs utilised by shire people,” she said.

For information, or to register a team, phone Sandra Barlow on 0416 121 155 or head to Mackay Park on November 14.