The Flora Hill Athletics Track will shine on Friday night – not just by candlelight, but with hope as more than 800 people join forces to find a cure for cancer.

Almost 60 teams have registered for the 18th Bendigo Relay for Life to be held on March 24 and 25.

Bendigo Relay for Life chairperson Teresa Jones said more than $100,000 had already been raised in the annual Cancer Council fundraiser.

“If you’ve lost someone to cancer, you want to find a cure,” she said. 

“We just live in hope that one of these days we’re going to have a cure and there won’t be so many of us that get it.

"We walk through the night because when someone has cancer it doesn’t stop at night time. The pain just goes on.”

The event starts at 6.30pm with the opening ceremony, followed by the Survivor and Carers Lap at 7.30pm and the Candlelight Ceremony at 8pm.

“It’s quite emotional and it’s a beautiful ceremony,” Mrs Jones said.

“We have candle bags in front of all the tents around the ground and they’re for you to write a memory of someone you’ve lost or some encouragement for someone who has survived.”

Doctors Rob Blum and Sam Harris from the Bendigo Cancer Centre will speak during the Candlelight Ceremony and Father Rob Galea will give a message of hope and sing. Kellie Jeffries will be the guest speaker at the survivor and carers supper.

A custom-built Lego mosaic will also be raffled at the event, to be created by Lego master Ryan McNaught, who grew up in Bendigo.

Mrs Jones encouraged anyone with an interest in finding a cure for cancer to come along.

“Once you’ve been to Relay you really want to go again,” she said. 

“It’s quite emotional, it’s addictive. We just hope to raise enough money for research.” 

More information can be found at www.relayforlife.org.au