Organisers of the annual event, which saw 500 people participate, estimate around $65,000 was raised in Bathurst, money which will go  towards vital research, support and prevention programs to beat cancer and help save lives.

Katherine Bodiczky, Community Relations Coordinator with the NSW Cancer Council said this year’s Relay for life “was fantastic.”

“We had a great turn out of people; it was incredible how many people walked all night.

“Normally a lot of people bail at 1am, but they were still out there walking,” she said.

Ms Bodiczky said Saturday evening’s Ceremony of Hope was particularly moving.

“We had two speakers and a poem which was read by Abbey Barcham, dedicated to her father.

“When she was reading I don’t think there was a dry eye in the audience.”

While registrations were down about 100 people compared to last year, Ms Bodiczky said the end result was still amazing.

“The final figure hasn’t been determined, but preliminary figures suggest the event raised about $65,000 which is absolutely incredible.

“I was speaking to one team who only registered two weeks ago and raised $3,000 in that time; imagine if they had registered earlier.”

She said the message she hopes people take away from the annual event is “one of hope.”

“Overall it’s just a great community event, with a message of hope.

“It’s a fun way to give something back to the community.

“A lot of people say they don’t know how to help in the fight against cancer, and this is why they get involved in Relay for Life, its their way of giving something back.”

Ms Bodiczky said people came from all over the region to be part of the event.

“We had people as far away as Sydney, Port Stephens and Newcastle.

“They come to support family and friends.

“Our chair had breast cancer and her family come every year to be here with her and support her.

She thanked everyone in the community who had much the event such an outstanding success, and contributed to the relay in any way.

“To the shops who have donated vouchers, people who have raised funds and organised a team to anyone who has been part of the event,  I am blown away by the generosity the community has shown.”

Ms Bodiczky made a special mention of D2F who she said do an amazing job.

“They brought the bikes down here and had a spin class every hour. The owner [Mark Simons] did back to back classes yesterday with just 20 minutes in between.

“They also did boot camp this morning, and raised around $5,000, they have been amazing,” she said.

While the event is a significant fundraiser for the Cancer Council, Ms Bodiczky said it is also a chance for the community to celebrate cancer survivors, patients and carers as well as to honour and remember loved ones lost to the illness.