For a second straight year, Memorial is taking a lead role in helping to raise money for cancer research.

And organizers have their sights set high in a hope to collect thousands of dollars.

It’s all part of the second annual Memorial University Relay for Life, which takes place Jan. 19, beginning at 7 p.m., in the Field House on the St. John's campus.

For 12 straight hours, participants from the university community – including students, faculty, staff and alumni – will strap on their sneakers for the non-competitive relay as part of a team, walking or running around the indoor track.

Last year, Memorial raised more than $15,000. It was quite the effort for the inaugural event, which was co-ordinated by the Canadian Cancer Society, and heavily organized by student body.

• See Relay raises thousands from Jan. 31, 2007

Once again this year, undergraduate and graduate students from various disciplines are playing a key role in helping get the event off the ground and are eager to make this another record-breaking year.

“It’s overwhelming to see how students from all over the MUN community have really come together in an effort to better the community-at-large,” said Katie Barnes, a first-year medical student in the Faculty of Medicine who is originally from Twillingate, N.L., and co-chair of this year's effort.

“As students, we often don’t have a lot of money or a lot of time, but events like the MUN Relay for Life just prove how Memorial students realize and genuinely want to do their part in dealing with the larger issues, such as the ongoing fight against cancer.”

During the relay, participants will have a chance to listen to great music, win prizes, play games, take a turn at karaoke, all the while learning about cancer issues.

They’ll also celebrate cancer survivors and their courage in struggling with the disease.

Ms. Barnes said one of the highlights of the evening will be the Luminary Ceremony. She said members of the university community can purchase candles which are placed in personalized bags in memory or in honour of someone who has battled cancer and won, who is currently struggling with cancer, or who have lost their battle.

She noted that the ceremony is also an opportunity for participants to pause and reflect.

“The Luminary Ceremony provides everyone a time to just take a minute, and reflect on our experiences with cancer and the experiences of others,” she noted.

“It is an emotional time, bringing everyone together in a way that very few things can. It also gives everyone a chance to celebrate the lives of our friends and family, and to share our stories with others.”

Members of the university community can purchase a luminary online for only $5 to celebrate their loved ones.

First organized in 1999, Relay for Life has taken place in 400 communities across the country and raised more than $174 million in the fight against cancer.

To register a team for this year’s Relay for Life, e-mail Ms. Barnes at munrelayforlife@hotmail.com or call the Canadian Cancer Society at 753-6520.