Yellowknife (May 24/06) - It's time to get your walking shoes ready for the third annual Relay for Life.

Around 150 people will participate in the 12-hour relay, which starts at 7 p.m. June 2 and ends at 7 a.m. June 3 at William McDonald school's race track.

Cancer survivor Judy Sharp stands with the mask (now painted in remembrance) she had to wear during her 35 radiation treatments in 2001. She is participating in the Relay for Life as the cancer survivor co-ordinator to say thank you to all the people who supported her throughout her treatment. - Photo courtesy Judy Sharp

The goal of the relay is to raise money for cancer research. More importantly, it's a time for the community to support those who have been personally affected by cancer.

"I was diagnosed with nasal pharyngeal cancer in November 2000," said Judy Sharp, the cancer survivor co-ordinator for the relay.

Having trouble hearing out of one of her ears, Sharp found out that it was actually a tumour located in the top of her throat, near the back of her nasal cavity that was affecting her hearing.

Sharp was immediately scheduled for surgery at a hospital in Edmonton where the tumour was removed.

"I never asked how big (the tumour) was," she said.

Two months of chemotherapy and radiation treatments on her throat followed her surgery.

After five years in remission, Sharp is hoping her last check-up, scheduled for directly after the relay, will be cancer-free.

"This relay is a way of saying thank you. Until you or a family member has cancer, you have no idea how much medical care is involved and the number of people around you that are affected," Sharp said.

Organizer and member of the Cancer Society, Gisele Forget, has also been affected by cancer.

"I lost a very special friend to cancer six years ago," Forget said. "It was the final push for me to get involved," she added.

The relay is set up so a person from each team will be running or walking on the track for the entire night.

Before the relay is the breast cancer survivor banquet, which will be held in the William McDonald school cafeteria at 5 p.m.

A ceremony commemorating survivors and those who lost their battle with cancer will be held on the track at 10 p.m.

Entertainment including the talents of past Legion idol winner Stephen Pretty and a jazz band will be on hand to motivate those walking and running until 1 a.m.

In the past two years, this event has raised around $140,000 for cancer research, Forget said.

According to the Cancer Society, about 40 people in the NWT have cancer now, but 95 more will be diagnosed by the end of the year. Out of those 135 people, around 50 will not survive.