Upon the very mention of the word 'cancer', most people will flinch or reminisce because most people have a story to tell when it comes to the disease.

A bout that came on all too soon and took the life of a loved one, or having to watch a loved one suffer through diagnosis, remission and relapse.

Unfortunately, there is not a lot that we can do.

When you hear that diagnosis, the only thing to be done is to fight and hope to overcome it.

The diagnosis can come with a feeling of hopelessness, for the patient and their loved ones.

But Relay for Life gives carers and survivors a glimmer of hope.

It is the chance to work toward a common goal while getting a sense that you are really making a difference.

The annual event is a way for everyday people to fight back and raise money in the hopes that medical professionals can one day find a cure.

Advances are being made every day into new treatments and preventions but there is still a long way to go into understanding and curing the disease.

Those who have participated in a relay before know just how fulfilling it can be.

Months of fundraising culminates in a 24-hour event full of food, stories of hope and survival, games, activities, laughter and a few tears.

The effort teams put into decorating their tents or raising money before or during the event is testimony to the commitment that each participant has to the cause.

Because each participant has a deeply personal reason for relaying.

Organisers are this year looking at attracting more teams and more participants to raise $150,000.

Seeing as though this city has raised far less in a shorter time period, the figure does not seem unachievable.

In the months leading up to Wagga's relay, donate to events, sign up to a team or register your own.