HUNDREDS of people touched by cancer are lacing up their walking boots for “an amazing rollercoaster” this weekend.
More than £27,000 has already been raised ahead of the Dunbar Relay for Life, which gets under way at 10am on Saturday.
Teams of walkers will continuously complete a circuit at Hallhill Sports Centre for 24 hours.
Money raised at the event will go to Cancer Research UK and the charity’s bid to save lives through research, influence and information.
Elaine Lennon, chair of the Relay for Life Dunbar committee, was looking forward to the event taking place in her home town for the first time.
She said: “It is a real rollercoaster.
“There are some fun moments, some really high moments, talking about the future and research, but there are some moments where there are some tears.
The DunBear will be lit purple to show support to Cancer Research UK's Relay for Life, which is taking place in Dunbar this weekend
“I’ve done two Relays for Life elsewhere and went through all these emotions but the feeling of the community coming together is great.
“The first lap, the Survivors Lap, we have got 28 survivors signed up.
“Some people are meeting other people they did not know had gone through the journey of cancer and it forges some really great new friendships.
“It is an emotional time and you see people hugging and holding each other – it is an amazing rollercoaster.”
A total of 250 people, split between 16 teams, will take part in the event, which begins with the Survivors Lap.
Then, as darkness falls, the Candle of Hope ceremony takes place, with dedicated candles lit to honour every life touched by cancer.
However, before a lap has even been completed, the fundraising team has already surpassed its target.
Plenty of entertainment
Elaine, who grew up in the town and now lives in Edinburgh, was delighted with the success and said the figure would only go higher.
Away from the fundraising laps, there will be plenty to keep people entertained.
A variety of stalls will be in place, including Dunbar’s walking footballers.
The group will have a stall operating from 10am to 4pm at Hallhill on Saturday.
A range of activities, including life-saving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) instruction and a beat-the-goalie competition, will take place, while football memorabilia will also be auctioned off.
The DunBear sculpture, in DunBear Park, will also be lit purple for the event.
Elaine was looking forward to the event and added: “It has been amazing.
“It does feel like a real community event so far and it is more than we could have hoped for.”
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