CANCER Research is bringing a 'Relay for Life' event to Okehampton this summer — and is looking for teams of friends, neighbours, colleagues and families to take part in what promises to be a fun and festive weekend. The relay will take place on August 25 and 26 at the rugby club, where teams of six people will take turns in running or walking around a track. Fundraiser Sylvia Arlett said: 'The idea is to have somebody from each team on the track at all times over a 24-hour period. 'The teams camp overnight at the site, and there's entertainment throughout the event for those waiting for their turn on the track. 'At Dawlish there were sumo wrestling displays, a silver band, children's competitions, aerobics classes, and stalls. And at other places they've had live music, Tae Kwon Do, quizzes, and aromatherapy demonstrations.' Besides looking for teams to take part in the event, the charity is looking for individuals, clubs, bands and companies willing to contribute to this entertainment. 'They can just come for a couple of hours during the 24 hours,' Sylvia said. 'A beautician, for instance, might be willing to come and do free mini facials, or a band or dance side might be willing to perform.' As well as its carnival atmosphere, the relay will have a more serious side — as night falls on the Saturday, the laps will stop for a few minutes while candles are placed all around the track, in memory of people who have been lost to cancer, or in celebration of those who have survived it. 'These candles will be placed in paper shades which can be personalised with messages or tributes — and the charity is inviting anybody who would like to do so to contact them between now and August. Sylvia said: 'Sometimes someone reads a poem, while the candles are lit. At one relay, somebody played bagpipes and at another somebody played a flute.' In 2006, relays took place at Dawlish and Tedburn, raising £23,000 and £20,000 respectively. 'We ask everybody running or walking in the relay to aim to raise £100 each. 'Some do it through sponsorship, others prefer to raise the money by organising a fundraising quiz night, car boot sale, or coffee morning before l Continued from page 1 the event.' It is up to individual teams how they organise their relay — Sylvia stresses that it is a non-athletic event. 'People can join a team just for a few hours if they can't stay the whole time.' Normally, everyone involved runs the last, celebratory lap. The first lap of the race is always a lap of honour, run or walked by cancer survivors as a testimony to the progress made in cancer research over the last three decades. The charity is looking for anybody who would like to take part in this or who would like to just attend the opening as a 'survivor'. To sign up for the relay as a team, to provide entertainment at the event, or to dedicate one of the 'candles of hope' please contact Carol for Cancer Research in Okehampton on 01837 54782, or email carol@lyndridge. freeserve.co.uk