THERE were some weary faces and soggy clothes, but when 3pm came around on Saturday it was still impossible to take the smiles off the faces of participants in the 2015 Bendigo Relay for Life.
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Organisers announced this year's Relay for Life had raised $118,817 for the Cancer Council, putting the total raised from Bendigo at more than $3 million over the event's 16-year history.
Team Justice - comprising staff and families of the Department of Justice - raised $12,400 for 2015, while Bendigo TAFE, Domain Village People, Strategem and Women of Note each raised more than $5000.
Yet persistent rain at the La Trobe University Bendigo Athletics Complex - particularly after 4am on Saturday morning - made the relay a tough task for this year's participants.
Lauren Holmes, of the Bendigo Chinese Association team, said it was a constant battle to keep everything dry through the night.
"At about 4am when it was really raining, our ponchos were wet on both sides," she said.
"We had to change into new shoes and socks, and kept on using dryers to dry off all of our clothes."
Ms Holmes and Zoe Willis were part of the team that won the Spirit of the Relay and the Best Tent Site awards.
The team of about 20 carried a Monopoly-themed baton for the full 24 hours.
They said they only got 20 minutes of sleep each, but it was worth it to help raise money for the Cancer Council.
Haylie Allen and Maddy Clarke, of Spring Gully, accepted the award for the Best Candle Bags for Team Spirit.
Ms Allen said they started taking part in Relay for Life three years ago after her father was diagnosed with bowel cancer.
"That was when we decided to get involved," she said.
"It was just to be able to raise money to help."
The candle bags sit alongside the track and feature messages and pictures to those who have either survived or succumbed to cancer.
For 2015, they decided to go with a "hippie" theme, to continue their colourful themes after last year they took on circus attire.
Organisers will continue to tally the result, with the final total expected to surpass $120,000.
The total was down on last year, but participants were up.
This year, 1400 people took part across 75 teams.
Other award winners included Grease Lightning for the best baton, the Caped Crusaders for the best dressed and encouragement award, and best youth team went to Bendigo Senior Secondary College.