For more than 12 hours, Royal Australian Navy teams from HMAS Coonawarra completed laps of Darwin’s TIO Stadium Oval 2, raising funds for Cancer Council NT during the annual Relay for Life. 

Kicking off at 6.30pm on a Friday night, the Coonawarra contingent had two teams – the Walkers, captained by Warrant Officer Dennis Bentley, and the Runners, led by Sub-Lieutenant Matthew Stocks. 

Throughout the night, the Walkers maintained a steady pace to keep their team’s baton moving around the stadium, while the Runners pushed themselves to cover as many laps as possible before the end of the relay on Saturday morning. 

By the end, the Runners had 358 laps under their belts, while the Walkers conquered 260 laps. 

Sub-Lieutenant Stocks said it was a challenge that required both endurance and teamwork. 

“Running for 12 hours straight isn’t an easy thing, and we’ve really had to rely on our teammates to show up and motivate us to achieve the goal,” Sub-Lieutenant Stocks said.

“We’ll probably be sore the next day, but it’s for a worthy cause.”

Organisers kept teams entertained throughout the night with tug-of-war competitions and a change in direction after midnight to keep people on their toes and the relay fresh. 

The teams covered about 220 kilometres throughout the night and raised vital funds for Cancer Council NT’s research, prevention and support services. The relay brought the community together to honour cancer survivors, remember those lost and support people currently undergoing treatment. 

Warrant Officer Bentley was proud of Coonawarra’s third year of participation in the charity event, helping to raise much-needed funds to support Cancer Council NT. 

“Thank you to all Navy personnel who volunteered their time and their spirits this weekend to rally together to support our local community. You’ve made your shipmates and our Navy proud,” he said. 

“Many of us in the teams have either been impacted directly by cancer or known someone who has been impacted in some way by cancer, so this isn’t just a faceless task. This is personal.”

As the final laps were completed on Saturday morning, the event highlighted Navy’s commitment to supporting the communities in which it serves.