Recruitment is under way for this year’s Dundee Relay for Life.
The 24-hour relay walk at the Ronnie McIntosh Stadium, Caird Park, in aid of Cancer Research UK, will be held on August 23 and 24.
Organisers are appealing for teams to sign up for the overnight event and 14 teams have already committed.
Participants are asked to raise as much money as possible in the months leading up to the relay.
And the charity is calling on those who have survived cancer or who are currently undergoing treatment to join the Survivor’s Lap of Honour that marks the start of the festival.
Linda Rattray, volunteer survivorship chairwoman, said: “The Survivor’s Lap of Honour is a crucial part of Relay For Life.
“It’s a moving start to the weekend’s festivities as people of all ages wearing special T-shirts bearing the word survivor step on to the track to complete one full lap, cheered on by all family, friends and work colleagues present.
“The Survivor’s Lap of Honour gives us a chance to honour everyone who has been touched by cancer and celebrate the strides that are being made into the research and the treatment of cancer.”
During the relay itself team members take it in turns to walk round the sports track, completing laps.
As night falls the atmosphere quietens as the relay comes to a temporary halt for the Candle of Hope ceremony in which candle bags decorated with messages in memory or celebration of loved ones are filled with sand and lit up with candles around the track.
An organiser said: “More than one in three people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage of their lives.
“Thanks to Cancer Research UK’s work, more people are surviving cancer than ever before survival rates have doubled over the last 40 years and for seven years Dundee Relay for Life has been at the heart of that progress.
“Cancer Research UK needs the continued help of people in Dundee to help save many more lives. We are calling on the public to join us in our campaign to beat cancer.”
For more information call 07526 872199, email dundeerelayforlife@live.co.uk or go to
facebook.com/dundeerelayforlifescotland
.
kbletcher@thecourier.co.uk