Council team celebrate raising £60k for Cancer Research
27 July 2026
What started as a small, heartfelt gesture to support a beloved colleague going through cancer treatment has since blossomed into a nine-year legacy of hope, community, and generosity by staff from Derry City and Strabane District Council.
Back in 2017, when the inaugural Legenderry Relay for Life was announced, a group of local Council employees decided to rally together to form a team to honour their former colleague, Sandra Smyth, who was undergoing cancer treatment at the time, but who has since sadly passed away. They called themselves Hope on the Move, a name that would come to define their unwavering commitment over the next decade.
Nine years on and the Council team’s presence at the Relay for Life has become a powerhouse of fundraising and creating awareness. Through tireless dedication, bake sales, laps around the track, and endless community support, Hope on the Move has raised an astonishing £60,000 for Cancer Research UK. Crucially, every single penny raised remains right here in Northern Ireland to support local research, treatment, and care initiatives.
For the team, the motivation goes far deeper than just hitting financial milestones. The Relay is a powerful platform to honour cancer survivors among their family, friends, and work colleagues, while keeping the memories alive of those who bravely fought their fight but are no longer with us.
The Legenderry Relay for Life itself is a vibrant, 24-hour community festival filled with music, entertainment, and connection, bringing together people from all walks of life to celebrate survivors and support those currently embarking on their cancer care journey. However, the emotional heart of the event arrives as dusk falls during the moving Candle of Hope Ceremony that is open to the entire community and where the track is illuminated by thousands of candle bags, with each individually dedicated to a loved one, offering a quiet, profound space to reflect, remember, and hope.
Reflecting on the team's journey and the overwhelming support from the public, team member Siobhan Fitzgerald expressed her gratitude to everyone who has backed their cause since day one. She said: “We are so incredibly proud of what this team has achieved and how far we’ve come since 2017. People have been so remarkably generous down through the years, whether it's donating a few pounds, cheering us on, or sharing their own stories with us. It has always been such a moving and inspirational event to be a part of, and over the years, we’ve made lifelong friends among the other teams. Knowing that every penny stays in Northern Ireland to help local families makes every single step worth it.”
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Grace Uí Niallais, also pledged her support and attended the relay event this year to praise the staff for their outstanding efforts.
She said: “What the Hope on the Move team has achieved over the past nine years is nothing short of extraordinary. Reaching the £60,000 milestone is a testament to their unwavering compassion, resilience, and the immense spirit of our local community. I am profoundly proud of our Council staff for turning personal heartbreak into a beacon of hope for so many families locally.”