I was only 10 metres away crossing the road at the corner of Elizabeth Street and Bourke Street and still can hear the car, the screams, the thuds of people being hit and the sirens of police vehicles. The effects of his actions has damaged a lot of people, me included.

Colin Barry, Tarrone

On behalf of Cancer Council Victoria, I would like to sincerely thank the community of Warrnambool for supporting the recent Warrnambool Relay For Life.

More than 900 participants Relayed on Friday 8th-9th of February in 35 teams, walking overnight to celebrate cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against cancer.

During the Relay, there was laughter, tears and no doubt, a few sore feet.

But the strength shown by local community members was a public display of support for the 205 Warrnambool locals diagnosed with cancer every year and anyone in the area with a cancer experience.

So far, over $69,000 has been raised by Warrnambool relayers, which will help fund Cancer Council Victoria’s cancer research, prevention programs and support services.

Funds raised at events like Warrnambool Relay For Life has helped Cancer Council to achieve phenomenal strides in cancer control, leading us to: improve the five-year cancer survival which has increased from 48 per cent to 68 per cent in Victoria in the last 30 years; A steady decline in mortality rates since 1982 reflecting earlier detection of cancers through screening, reductions in tobacco use, especially in males, and improvements in treatment; Find further links between a person’s risk factors and cancer, such as the link between prolonged sitting in the workplace and bowel cancer.

Cancer Council Victoria is working to increase survival for low survival cancers through research, including The Forgotten Cancer Project.

Each year we fund research projects taking place in Victorian hospitals and universities that are working on developing new treatment options for less common and low survival cancers.

Important prevention programs like cancer screening education, Quit Victoria, SunSmart and LiveLighter will ensure people have all the information they need to cut their risk of cancer.

Support services including our wig service, Holiday Break program and information and support line, Cancer Council 13 11 20, are 100 per cent community-funded. All of these services benefit Warrnambool locals.

Thank you again to everyone who Relayed and helped continue the fight against cancer

Todd Harper, CEO, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne