By
Emma White
Local heroes – Warren Wright’s beating cancer one step at a time!
Warren Wright Photo courtesy The Northern Daily Leader
If you have taken part in Relay For Life, you may have crossed paths with Warren Wright – one of our amazing community supporters and a keen marathoner. A familiar friendly face in the Tamworth community, Warren is also a regular at Cancer Council’s Relay For Life events across the state.
In only nine years, Warren has walked an incredible 15,000 laps and this year hopes to complete six Relays – the next one will mark his 40th! But Warren doesn’t want to stop there.
“Every Relay is different. At Coffs Harbour, I walked for 36hrs and I started before anyone else. It was raining, there was mud – at first they gave me an umbrella and I just kept going, walking around doing laps and laps.”
“There’s still a lot more work to be done. I want to get through the hundredth one. I think to myself, the patient has gone through chemo and they can’t ‘stop’ – cancer doesn’t stop for anybody, so why should I stop?”
Warren’s inspiring Relay activities have earned him a new role in the Tamworth community as a Relay For Life Ambassador.
“It’s a great honour. Being an Ambassador gives me more responsibility and allows me to do more in the community – I want to do more Australia-wide if I can. I want to go around talking to people and help motivate them about what they can do rather than what they can’t do.”
Like many of us, Warren has been affected by cancer. Aside from a personal cancer scare, his beloved foster mum was diagnosed with breast cancer.
“She looked after me, and she went through a rough time. I want to show people you can do it when you’re down and out – that there’s people there who care.”
Warren also works at the local hospital in Tamworth and regularly supports people affected by cancer in the community.
When asked what motivates him to Relay, Warren explained that the strength and resilience shown by the patients he regularly works with inspires him to take on his next challenge.
“I hear a lot of stories every day and I just want to feel what they go through. We Relay for 24hrs but they do it seven days a week.”
About Relay For Life
Relay For Life is a fun and moving overnight experience that raises vital funds for Cancer Council’s research, prevention and support services.
The event is a chance for communities to recognise and celebrate those who have overcome cancer or are undergoing treatment, as well as the people who care for them. Relay also provides an opportunity to celebrate the memory of loved ones lost to cancer.
Find out more about Relay For Life.
There are lots of ways to get involved with Cancer Council NSW
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