Backhaus Oval in Golden Square will be the setting for the event, which is a fundraiser for the Cancer Council.

Teams will circulate the ground from April 20 – April 21 in a show of support for people who have experienced cancer, either directly or indirectly.

Money raised will aid the Cancer Council in its work, which includes cancer research, prevention and support services. 

Bendigo Relay for Life chair Teresa Jones said 41 teams had already registered to partake in the event.

“We’re about eight down on this time last year, so hopefully we can pick up a few more,” she said.

The event starts at 6.30pm on Friday, April 20, with an opening ceremony.

Cancer survivors and carers complete the first lap of the relay and are joined by the rest of the participants in the second lap. 

From the third lap onward, relay participants take turns in keeping the team moving around the oval.

A representative for each team ought to be on the field all throughout the event.

The relay is scheduled to come to a conclusion about 3pm on Saturday, April 21.

A closing ceremony will mark the end of Bendigo’s 19^th Relay for Life.

Mrs Jones said Bendigo had been involved in the Relay for Life for all but one of the initiative’s 20 years.

The city has raised more than $3.2 million for Cancer Council in the past 18 years.

Participants last year contributed more than $133,000 to the cause.

Mrs Jones was hopeful of exceeding that sum with this year’s efforts.

The fundraising total already sits above $49,000.

“There are so many people suffering in different ways from cancer,” Mrs Jones said.

“Relay for Life is about all cancers, not one particular cancers. We raise money for research in every cancer.”

This week marked the launch of the 2018 event.

Speakers at the event on Wednesday night included St John of God Bendigo Hospital oncology nurse unit manager Claire Pysing.

Mrs Jones said this year’s venue change was by circumstance, not by choice.

The event is typically staged at the Bendigo Athletics Track, which is undergoing works.

Aside from the shift to Backhaus Oval, Mrs Jones said the event would follow a familiar format. 

She said now was the time for prospective participants to get involved.

People can register online at the Bendigo Relay for Life website: fundraising.cancer.org.au/site/TR/RelayforLife/CCVIC?pg=entry&fr_id=5121

Alternatively, Mrs Jones said interested teams were welcome to call her on 0429 194 503.