Antarctic expeditioners raise more than $18,000 for this year’s Relay For Life

Coronavirus restrictions caused this year’s main Relay For Life event to be cancelled, but some of the most socially isolated Australians in the world still braved the cold to do their bit.

Relay for Life at Casey Antarctic station. Picture: AAD / ALI DEAN

Antarctic expeditioners at Australia’s Casey Station have braved the icy conditions to raise more than $18,000 for this year’s Relay For Life.

Raising funds for Cancer Council Tasmania, the relay team, “Casey Cancer Conquerors”, spent 24 hours walking continuous laps of the snow track surrounding the Antarctic station over May 7-8.

Relay for Life team “Casey Cancer Conquerors”. Picture: AAD / DAVID WRIGHT

It was only the second time in the 20 years of the event that Relay For Life has been held in the Antarctic, and the Casey expeditioners were approached to take part this year to help mark the event’s 20th anniversary.

The first Antarctic Relay For Life, held in 2012, saw a team of 19 expeditioners walk laps around the Casey Station, braving the elements to raise more than $11,000.

The team raised more than $18,000 for this year’s Relay For Life. Picture: MICHAEL KEATING KEARNEY/AAD

This year’s team, led by Will Holstein, beat that figure by just over $7000, much to the delight of Relay For Life State Manager Anthony Edwards.

“Critically, the Casey Cancer Conquerors are raising vital funds in a year where we had to cancel five of the six scheduled events due to COVID-19,” he said. “The fact this event can take place is extra special to Cancer Council Tasmania and our whole Relay community.”

Because of social distancing, those taking part in this year’s event held indicual relays, rather than the usual mass event at Hobart’s Domain Athletics Centre.