Participants take it in turns to walk through the day and night during the 24-hour event in aid of the charity.
It is opened with the survivors’ lap, where cancer survivors who have lived or are living with cancer take part in a special celebratory lap of their local track.
A Candle of Hope ceremony also takes place, with thousands of candle bags that have been personalised with messages of hope and remembrance lit in celebration of cancer survivorship and to honour loved ones lost to cancer.
Westlife’s Shane Filan, who is an ambassador for the event, said: “I know first-hand the devastating impact cancer can have on a family, as I lost my mum and dad to the disease just nine months apart. I miss them every day, but I know they would be incredibly proud of my work today with Relay For Life.”
Cancer survivor Hollie Maxwell (l) with daughter Phoebe, Irish Cancer Society Relay for Life Ambassador Shane Filan, and cancer survivor and Relay for Life Global Hero of Hope Rose Finn (r).
His mum Mae died of lung cancer in December 2019 and his father Peter died of pancreatic cancer in October 2020.
He said it is “so vital for people whose lives have been touched by cancer to have an outlet to come together and get support”.
“Relay For Life is a magical, moving event that celebrates our cancer survivors in our communities, it helps give solace to those who have lost loved ones. Most importantly, it gives hope. Hope for better services, hope for better treatment, and hope for a future free from cancer.”
He added: “It’s hard to believe, but one in two of us will receive a cancer diagnosis in our lifetime. While every three minutes, someone in Ireland is hearing the words, ‘You’ve got cancer’. The funds raised through Relay For Life helps ensure no one has to face a cancer diagnosis alone.”
The funds raised at the event support the Irish Cancer Society to provide free support services to people affected by cancer across Ireland and to fund cancer research.
The singer has urged people to get involved in their local Relay For Life, or to bring a Relay For Life to their own area if they don’t already have one.
“I’m thrilled to see that Relay For Life is being brought to Westmeath and my hometown of Sligo for the first time this year,” he said.
“My ambition is that one day, Relay For Life will be in every county in Ireland, supporting cancer patients and their families across the country and remembering loved ones lost at this special event.”
Relay for Life Mayo will take place in the South Mall in Westport on May 17, while further events will be held in Donegal, Dublin, Kildare, Clare, Kilkenny, Wexford, Cork and more.
To register a team for a Relay For Life event near you, or to find out about bringing one to your community, visit www.relayforlife.ie.
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