Friday’s heat and ominous sky obviously wasn’t a deterrent for the more than 50 teams of participants Penetanguishene’s Rotary Park Friday night for the third-annual Relay For Life.

The event, a key fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society, brought out hundreds of people to raise money for cancer research and to offer support services for local residents diagnosed with cancer.

Organizer Kelly Earle said the event – which attracted more enthusiastic participants than ever before – raised approximately $70,000.

 “It was a really good night. A lot of people showed up and there seemed to be a lot of survivors,” says Earle, adding the response so far has been overwhelmingly positive. “People are saying they had such a good time and that they never knew how much fun the relay was.”

The luminary ceremony was especially touching, she adds.

“It touched a lot of people. Everyone really appreciated it because it allowed them to come together and cry and remember and honour the people they may have lost to cancer.”

Only a few days after wrapping up the 2008 Relay For Life, Earle has already started planning to make next year’s even better, and has even set a date.

“It’s going to be June 12 (2009) and we will begin signing up teams in August,” she says. “We’re (already) moving forward with plans to see how we can improve and add to next year’s event.”