The third annual Relay For Life is all set for the June 19 weekend but the Cancer Society is in need of a coordinator and other volunteers.

Relayers will run this Spring in hopes of matching or beating last year's $51,000 raised during the 12-hour relay, which begins at 5 p.m. June 19 at Rotary Park.

Before that can happen, the Canadian Cancer Society will have to find new leadership in Merritt as relayer and coordinator Nicole Mikkelsen has stepped down.

“We're looking for some new leadership volunteers to coordinate and help,” said the Society's interior region spokesman, Ed Millman.

He says ideal volunteers are those who have been touched by cancer and are well connected in the community.

Some of the themes of this year's relay include “Fighting Back Against Cancer” and “Cancer Never Sleeps and Neither Will We.”

Millman says its all about “people getting their emotions out about cancer and wanting to fight the disease.”

“To be able to stay up for 12 hours is an easy sacrifice to be able to fight the disease,” he said.

Twenty teams ran in the relay last year in Merritt. The previous year, 17 teams ran and raised $38,000.

Those interested in volunteering can contact the Canadian Cancer Society interior region office at 250-762-6381.

The Canadian Cancer Society uses the Relay For Life donations to fund research projects of all types of cancer, to provide information services and support programs in communities, and to advocate for public policies that are aimed at preventing cancer and helping those living with it.

Relay for Life is designed to bring family and friends together to celebrate cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost to cancer, and to fight back by raising money for the directives of the Cancer Society.