relay for life

What an amazing experience my weekend was. After driving to Mareeba and then unpacking everything and repacking it all in my friends ute we took off to Cairns not really knowing what the weekend was going to be like.

Daune had wanted to set off early so we could get everything organised before the others got there. When we got to the unloading bay the poor SES volunteers were falling over themselves NOT to help us, 1 market stall gazebo, one large display tent, two very large eskys, 4 smaller eskys, swags, chairs, bags, l large folding table, three tarps and a garden trolley. It ended up being put on the back of a tractor. We had the best position, on the edge, just around the corner from the food van and the toiletds and away from speakers and a view of all of the camp site.

All the others in our team had other commitments that day - kids sports so duane had said thats okay me and Jan can make a start setting everything up as long as you are all here by lunchtime.

Hah, we tried we really did, we got the gazebo up by ourselves but then we were absolutely out of our depth trying to do the big tent, Duane can be so shameless at times (and embarassing) and after trying to get a couple of young lads to help tie the knots she went across to the army tent when I went to the loo and she had enlisted the help of two cute navy guys who had got stuck into it, we wouldn't have any cake left at this rate - she bakes the best chocolate cake, and had promised a slice to all the SES guys who had taken all our stuff to the campsite and the guy in the next tent who had shown us how to put up the other tent. But they weren't after the cake they wanted the pikelets. We were were hoping to get away with telling people we had put the tent up by ourselves but one of the team turned up before we could hide Titch and NIck and we were caught out and while were trying to bribe her, Duanes daughter and her family turned up and we were caught out yet again. We gave up before we were shamed anymore.

The opening ceremony was a riot of colour and unusual people - everybody had got into the 'moment' and were dressed up - our team captain was a cow (she's very nice really LOL), and we all had cow hats on, there was young guys dressed as the cast from Rocky Horror, harem dancers, more cows, babies, grannys, bikies, chooks and roosters and too many others to name. Duanne being the team leader (and the only one the costume would fit) got to wear the cow suit and doesn't she just look fetching.

The survivors first lap was moving to say the least but the positivity and hope was catching.

The whole atmosphere was amazing and uplifting, the whole mood of the weekend was one of hope, right from the start it was like everyone knew each other, we all had this common bond and we were all linked together.

We had to have one team member on the track at all times, but we mostly did it in twos but only one counted so we didn't get anymore laps but it was easier to do as we chatted. I think our team did 210 laps all up, I did about 15 carrying the baton and 25 as support. The team had decided that Duane and I should do the first lap in honour of MIks memory. I managed four before the heat of the sun got to me and I decided I would do the night shift.

More later..........