Donegal schools urged to get involved with Relay for Life

Schools across Donegal are being urged to play their part in raising awareness of cancer and much-needed funds for the Irish Cancer Society by getting involved with this year’s Relay for Life.
Primary Schools will have the opportunity to play their part in a very special way this year by organising their very own ‘Primary Colours’ walk any day that suits them between May 13 and May 17 – the week before the Relay for Life Event in Letterkenny.
Several Secondary schools have also entered teams in this year’s event, with others already agreeing to support in other ways.
Committee member Grace Mulligan explained that the ‘Primary Colours’ walk would see students and teachers dress up in bright colours before taking part in a walk that would help raise awareness of all types of cancer.
“We are calling this our rainbow relay and we are hoping that as many schools in the county will take part. We didn’t set any definite date or time to allow schools flexibility in terms of organising the walk in the way that suits them best.”
She added that many schools across the county have agreed to take part in the rainbow relay walk, with many also agreeing to use the event as a fund-raiser for the Irish Cancer Society through Relay for Life.
“Some schools have tied in with local teams to help them raise funds, but we realise too that schools also raise funds for many other charities over the year and might have felt that they could not take part if they didn’t raise funds. That isn’t the case, the big emphasis on the rainbow walk is the awareness it raises of cancer and we’d really love all schools to take part,” Grace added.
Grace, who urged schools taking part to let the committee know the date and time of their event by sending her a text or email, also explained the reason for the rainbow.
“There are hundreds of different types of cancer and each have different coloured ribbons associated with them. Relay for Life incorporates all of these different campaigns and all the colours, so we felt a rainbow was appropriate.”
The Relay for Life committee member meanwhile added that many schools – Primary and Secondary – had also agreed to provide artwork for this year’s event.
“We have tried to visit as many schools as possible to let them know about the Relay for Life event and as well as asking Primary Schools to take part in Primary Colours and the Secondary Schools to enter teams, we have also asked them to consider providing artwork for the weekend itself.”
Last year’s Relay for Life event was decorated with loads of amazing art from schools around the county and with many schools also agreeing to provide artwork for this year’s event, the LYIT campus is certain to be a magnificent gallery of artwork on Relay weekend.
Meanwhile while many secondary school students are busy working on artwork and research on different types of cancer, others are working busy preparing their teams for the Relay for Life weekend.
“We’re delighted to have teams from Secondary Schools from different parts of the county involved again this year, they bring such enthusiasm and fun to the event as everybody who attended last year can testify,” said Grace.
With the seconds ticking down towards this year’s Relay for Life, Grace has said there is still time for schools to get involved.
“If any school would like to get involved in the Primary Colours walk, or provide artwork ,or indeed, seek any further information, then I’d ask them to get in contact as soon as possible. All the contact details are on www.relayforlifedonegal.com ” she said.
Finally, she added that schools with artwork for the event can drop it into Ben Sweeney’s in Letterkenny or Tul na Ree in Carndonagh between 13-17^th May for collection by the committee.