On September 17th this year, Ickworth Park, Bury St Edmunds will host it's 7th Relay for Life in aid of Cancer Research UK.
Relay for life is a year-round team fundraising event bringing communities together to beat cancer. Over 4 million people take part in Relay for Life each year, raising over £3.5 billion in the worldwide fight against cancer since 1985. Ickworth is hosting one of 40 Relay for Life events happening across the UK this summer. Organised by a dedicated volunteer committee, each Relay for Life event sees a 24-hour walking relay, where teams, cancer survivors, their carers and volunteers come together to show that together cancer can be beaten.
Each event begins with a lap of honour from the VIP guests, the cancer survivors. Then members of each team take it in turn to walk laps of the track, all day and all night to show that cancer never sleeps. A Candle of Hope ceremony sees the darkness lit up in memory of those we've lost. It's a chance to learn about Cancer Research's groundbreaking progress and also enjoy music and entertainment for all the family. The 24 hour relay ends with a closing ceremony.
Last year more than 300 people took park in the Relay for Life held at Ickworth and raised more than £45,000 for Cancer Research. The National Trust opens up its doors and gates for FREE over the weekend, and this year Nordic Walking East Anglia are offering free ongoing Nordic walking tasters sessions. On Saturday, from 12.30pm throughout the day, every hour we will be introducing the first 5 steps of the British Nordic Walking technique to a different group, hoping in return for a donation to this fantastic charity, Cancer Research UK. This will give people a chance to learn about the benefits of Nordic walking, a fast growing sport that is not only recommended by the NHS (through their Live Well fitness and Change4life programmes) but most relevantly has strong links with cancer. There is increasing evidence that Nordic walking can have an extremely positive effect on the recovery of those with breast Cancer. See the Penny Brohn cancer care charity and related research.
So please come along and support Cancer Research, enjoy the stunning grounds of Ickworth, and either have a go at Nordic walking for the first time or take this opportunity to brush up on your technique.