The year eight student walked over 80 kilometres – more than 200 laps of the 400 metre track – at last year’s event.  

Ella was one of the few OHS students to walk overnight, powering through with just a few hour’s rest.

“It was tough,” she said. 

“The hardest part was in the morning, I had a couple of hours rest overnight but I got back up in the morning and that was the hardest part. I’d already finished 80 or so kilometres.”

However, she said the experience was rewarding.

“It was great, really good, this year we’re going to try and get people out on the track overnight, last year I was one of the few who walked all night,” she said.

Ella started doing Relay for Life in year six, when she organised her own team from Calare Public School. 

She’s carried that drive through to high school, joining the school’s Relay for Life committee. 

“In year three I had a classmate diagnosed with cancer, and before that in kindie my friend’s mum was diagnosed with breast cancer,” she said. 

“It’s not good to see people suffering like that and I thought this is a good way to help them.

“We’re getting quite a big Orange High team and we’re starting to get more. They’ll all register last minute.” 

OHS Relay for Life team captain Yelena Latter is taking part in her first Relay for Life, but the school has been taking part for years, with Miss Latter saying the OHS students were “huge supporters” of the event, which was one of the reasons she jumped on-board. 

“They love doing it, absolutely love it. They’ve got their own little reasons for being part of relay for life, whether that’s family or friends or just the community involvement behind it all,” she said.

She said OHS had passed their goal of $2500, but with students jumping on-board last minute Miss Latter was hoping collect much more than their target.