Some Relay staples – such as the Hope Ceremony – and favourites from the 2012 and 2014 events are returning alongside a whole host of new-for-this-year activities and festivities, all with the aim of making it a community event for a good cause.

Approximately 318 people in the Mudgee and district area have been diagnosed with cancer in the two years since the last Relay for Life, something that will be represented in a new part of the event, the “Hope Garden”.

The number of people surviving their cancer diagnosis is increasing thanks to fundraising and contributions during Relay for Life.

The event is also about cancer awareness and prevention, new this year are the Mini Health and Info Expo and Eat It To Beat It information session, during the latter children can enjoy the Teddy Bear’s picnic with Dougal Bear.

As well as plenty of fun and laughs too, a first for 2016 will be Miss Relay featuring some brave local lads.

Committee chairperson Christina Caughey invited everyone from the community to come along on the day as it’s a good chance for people who may have missed the opportunity to join a team but still want to be a part of it.

“We’ve got heaps of new events this year such as Miss Relay, the Teddy Bear’s Picnic, alongside the regulars such as the Survivors & Carers lap and morning tea,” she said.

“Survivors and Carers don’t need to stay for the whole event either, the first part of the Relay is dedicated to them and they can just walk the first lap and stay for the morning tea if they like.

“People are also welcome to come along to the Hope ceremony at dusk to take a moment to remember those we’ve lost to cancer.

“But it’s a community event, with a great carnival atmosphere so we’re encouraging everyone – even if you’re not in a team – to come along, buy lunch and raffle tickets and be a part of it because it’s all for such a good cause.”

For more information check out the official page at fundraising.cancer.org.au/mudgee2016 or their Facebook page www.facebook.com/MudgeeRelayForLife

2-6pm - Victoria Park open for teams to set up sites, first in best dressed (security on site overnight)

6.30am - Gates open

7.30am - Team check-in opens at Cancer Council tent

7.30-9.30am - Registrations open at Cancer Council tent, people can register on the day to walk a lap, Survivors & Carers as well

9am - Team Captains briefing session

9.45am - Opening Ceremony

10am - Survivors & Carers lap of honour

10.15am - Survivors & Carers morning tea

11am - Stepping Out performance on main stage, Scouts games in the middle of the oval

11.30am - Music by Ross Kurtz and Don Coombes, putt putt golf in oval

12pm - Music by Jess Holland

12.30pm - Stepping Out performance

1pm - Music by Euripi

1pm-3pm - Mini Health and Info Expo at Survivors & Carers tent, health checks and information on hand from variety of groups and organisations

1.30pm - Music by Jess Holland

2.30pm - Music by Jenny Drury

3pm - Eat It To Beat It information session, Teddy Bear’s Picnic in Survivors & Carers tent

3pm - Music by Nick Wall, Scouts games in the middle of the oval

3.30pm - Gymnastics at front grass

4pm - Music by Feytalistic

6pm - Hope Ceremony

6.30pm - Lights up and walking /music /activities begin again

7.30pm - Miss Relay Competition

9.30pm - Miss Relay announced

10pm - Music quietens down

12-6am - Activities during the night

6am - Dawn Celebration Breakfast

7.30am - Team captains give provisional fundraising total

8am - All raffles drawn

8.30am - Prizes announced

9.45am - Closing Ceremony

10am - Final lap lead by Committee