Renee Sullivan’s family has a genetic predisposition to cancer but rather than get beaten down by it, it has met the risk head-on.
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Four generations of the Sullivan family took part in the Sullivan’s Striders team in the Corangamite Relay for Life on the weekend, not only to raise awareness about cancer prevention and research but also to strengthen the close bonds the genetic predisposition has created within the family.
The Sullivan family has taken part in nine Relays for Life, including eight in the Corangamite event, after Renee’s mum, Colleen, started the family’s participation.
Colleen Sullivan (nee Unwin) and four others of her 10 siblings have since died from cancer along with several others of the extended Sullivan family.
Renee Sullivan said the family had lived with its genetic predisposition for so long, it had been bonded closer together by the risk.
She said she got annual tests and took aspirin to help reduce her risk of cancer.
The Sullivan family’s involvement was one of many inspiring stories at this year’s Corangamite Relay for Life that involved 420 people in 13 teams.
The event, which had team members walking in relay for 18 hours around the Cobden Recreation Reserve, raised at least $51,000 this year.
Another inspiring act was that of Peter Ryan of Melton who was presented with the “Spirit of the Relay” award for his marathon effort in walking throughout most of the 18-hour event.
Mr Ryan, who lost both his mother and father to cancer, took on the big task after most of his team pulled out earlier in the week.
He was helped by friend Juanita Betts, who walked from midnight to 4.30am, and members of other teams who carried the team baton for a few hours.
Also uplifting was the support that 14-year-old cancer survivor Stacey James received from her Camperdown College schoolmates.
Meg Pickles, Olivia Maskell and Grace Jopling walked with the Timboon Railers Trailers and Lions team to support Stacey who is in remission from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
Cancer Council community liaison officer Catherine De Vries said the Corangamite community had much to be proud of with its support for Relay for Life. Next year’s Corangamite Relay for Life will be held at the Terang Recreation Reserve.
