By CASEY NEILL
JULIE McCrimmon is risking more than just blisters to take part in Greater Dandenong Relay for Life next weekend.
The Chandler Park Primary School teacher will shave her head if her team, the Chandler Cruisers, raises more than $2000 for the cause.
“We’ve had quite a lot of relatives and friends, particularly in the past 12 months, who have either got cancer or have passed away from the disease,” Ms McCrimmon said.
“I thought it was a really good way of honouring them and cancer research is really important.
“We need as much of that as we can. Otherwise people find out too late.”
Her husband’s stepmother died earlier this year, just 10 months after being diagnosed with liver cancer.
“Just watching her go through that….” she said.
“And not just her – my father-in-law and my brothers in law and my husband – it’s quite horrible.”
Ms McCrimmon has also watched her mum beat breast cancer and her aunt undergo a double mastectomy to tackle the disease.
This will be her first Relay for Life.
The event raises money for the Cancer Council and involves a team keeping a baton moving for 20 hours.
“It’s just something to help, really,” Ms McCrimmon said.
On Saturday 11 October at 3.45pm, carers and survivors will do the first lap of the Greater Dandenong Relay for Life.
City of Greater Dandenong Mayor Jim Memeti will officially open the event at 4pm, children’s activities will run from 5pm to 7pm, and there’ll be a candlelight ceremony to remember loved ones at 8pm.
The closing ceremony will take place at 10am on Sunday 12 October.
Greater Dandenong Relay for Life will be held at Ross Reserve, Memorial Drive, Noble Park.
Visit www.relayforlife.org.au and search for Chandler Cruisers to donate, or for more information.
