Running on water - Tobruk’s MRH-90 crew supports Relay for Life

Nine personnel from HMAS Tobruk's MRH-90 Flight 1 team have been running on water in support of the Cancer Council's Relay for Life.

Relay for Life is an annual event to raise money for cancer research and treatment, in which teams of volunteers try to run or walk continuously for 24 hours.

HMAS Albatross-based 808 Squadron has been a keen supporter of the charity, successfully completing the challenge and raising more than $3000 for the past two years.

Despite being deployed to Operation Pacific Assist 2015 and being unable to run on land, members of Flight 1 were determined to find another way to contribute to 808 Squadron's goal of finishing for a third consecutive year.

Team organiser Chief Petty Officer Carl Stewart said he considered a number of options but the movement of the ship meant the only safe way to participate was by using treadmills and cross-trainers.

"The challenge proved a lot harder than running on land as the equipment was located in one of the hottest parts of the ship," CPO Stewart said.

"However, with a lot of encouragement and good-natured ribbing, we made our allotted distance of 34km in the required time of one hour."

He said the squadron was already planning to participate next year as many people at Albatross personally knew of someone affected by cancer.

"One in three Australians will develop cancer, so we hope that by supporting Relay for Life our small contribution will help those in need," he said.