Relay for Lifers Rochelle Nafatali and Florence Aiono (back) with Kelly Atkinson, Winnie Laban and Sarah Tumai.

RELAY FOR LIFE is ready to kick-start in Porirua for the first time, aiming to raise awareness about cancer.

Luamanuvao Winnie Laban, Labour MP for Mana, says Relay for Life will develop a “sense of community and be a real family event”.

Being a survivor of breast cancer, Ms Laban says cancer does not discriminate and is something that affects all cultures.

Rochelle Nafatali took part in a previous Relay for Life in Wellington with her team the Polynesian Primo-Donnas and asked the Cancer Society to hold the event in Porirua.

There is a need for more Pacific Islanders to get involved as there is a lack of knowledge about cancer, says Mrs Nafatali.

 Teams register to participate in the relay, to be held on March 13 next year and involve running around a track for 17 hours with one team member running during that time. 

The Porirua relay is being held on a track outside Te Rauparaha Arena.

 Money raised will go to establishing a Porirua cancer centre where people can get information with the key message being “regular checks saves lives”.

Florence Aiono, media spokesperson for the Porirua relay, says the event offers warmth, fun, togetherness and a sense of walking through life together.

“It’s to pay tribute to those we have lost along the way, celebrate the lives of our survivors and fight back against this disease so that more lives can be saved.”