Meet Rob: The man who’s taken part in Relay For Life more than 50 times
Rob Osbourne is a passionate community fundraiser whose commitment to Relay For Life has spanned more than two decades.
Long before becoming a familiar face at Relay for Life events across NSW, Rob was an accomplished ultra-marathon runner who came close to qualifying for the Olympic Games.
At 70 years of age, Rob has taken part in more than 50 Relay For Life events.
An unexpected start
Robs journey with Relay for Life began with Rob driving past Penrith’s first Relay For Life event in 2001 and stopping to see what it was all about.
“I drove past Relay For Life in Penrith. I thought, ‘What’s this?” Rob recalls. “They told me, and I thought, well, I like to run. So I paid the money and got into it and I’ve never stopped. I don’t think I’ve missed a Penrith Relay For Life since”. From that point on, Rob was hooked.
More than just a walk
Relay For Life has been held for over two decades and has become one of Cancer Council’s signature community fundraising events. It’s where communities can come together to honour cancer survivors, remember lost loved ones, and raise funds to support those currently impacted by cancer
Participants fundraise in the lead-up and then take part in a relay-style walk, with teams taking turns around the track throughout the event. Funds raised go towards Cancer Council’s free information and support services for people impacted by cancer, as well as research aimed at improving prevention, detection, treatment and survivorship outcomes.
A personal reason to keep showing up
For Rob, Relay For Life is deeply personal, with various family members diagnosed over the years
Despite competing in countless endurance events, Relay For Life quickly became more than just another race for Rob: “My mother died of cancer, my grandmother died of cancer, and one of my grandfathers did too. And my brother, he’s had prostate cancer. Plus, over the years, being my age, I’ve known a lot of people who’ve died of cancer,” he said.
The moment he’ll never forget
After more than 50 Relay For Life events, there is one big reason he continues to return year after year.
“One of the most incredible things I’ve seen was a young lady who was dying of cancer. She was in a wheelchair, and she had enough courage to get up on the stage. A bloke has a sore throat and a headache, and you think, ‘what on earth are you complaining about?’”
Why Relay For Life still matters to Rob
Despite his long history with ultra-marathons and endurance events, Rob’s continued commitment to Relay For Life isn’t about fitness or personal achievement.
He believes that by simply showing up, walking a few laps and encouraging others can make a real difference. Whether it’s by sharing a conversation, completing laps alongside someone or offering encouragement.
“What kept me coming for 20 years is encouraging people to keep on going. Don’t give up and just keep on going. You see so many people who had cancer five years ago, 10 years ago, and they’re completely recovered. That’s a good thing to see,” he said.
After more than 20 years participating in Relay For Life, Rob still sees the event as an opportunity to support others and honour those affected by cancer. And with no plans to slow down anytime soon, he says he’ll be back on the track for many more Relays For Life’s to come.
Ready to get on track? Find your local Relay for Life event and join thousands of Australians fund cancer support services and research.