Relay a resounding success

In only its second year, the result follows $105,000 raised at the very first Relay for Life last year.

Committee member Glenda Wahlert said they are very pleased with the generous contributions from the community.

"Last year we were surprised by the amount of money raised," she said. 

"We still have more coming in for this year's Relay, there's another month to donate, so we're hoping to have a similar total amount. 

 "We're really happy with how things went and how the community came together."

Mrs Wahlert said support for the event was growing with a total of 450 people participating including a last minute surge of support which saw 50 relayers register on the day.

"The atmosphere was fantastic. We still had people out walking at about 12.30 and 1.30am, it died off a bit by 3am but this year we had more people camping overnight and more teams participating," she said. 

"We had about 28 teams last year compared to 35 this time around ... with more awareness we're hoping to get even more people signed up next year." 

Mrs Wahlert said the Relay for Life was about the people and their stories, how they or their loved one had been touched by cancer. 

"We have to thank the people who came out on the day, without them there wouldn't be an event," she said. 

"It's about the people who are involved; it's their Relay, not ours."

The event's patron and ABC journalist Chris Kimball shared he and his family's experience with cancer. Mr Kimball battled a rare sub-type of non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

"He was really very inspiration and shared his own story. We tried to get him involved as much as possible and he joined in staying overnight with his son," she said. 

"He's already committed for next year."Lisa Evans from the Cancer Council NSW said money raised at the Relay For Life is used to support local families affected by cancer in the Queanbeyan region and on cancer research. "This year we are spending more than $16 million on cancer," she said. 

"We are unique in that we are the only cancer charity that supports people with all cancers, and research into all cancers with a particular focus on the lesser known, high mortality cancers such as pancreatic, brain and liver."

To make a donation or volunteer for the 2014 Relay for Life please visit relay.cancercouncil.com.au/2013/queanbeyan_2013/