"When you see the Candles of Hope stretching all the way round the track, you realise how many people cancer touches."
Derek Madley, Relay participant, 2007
The Candle of Hope ceremony really brings home the true meaning of Relay For Life.
It's a chance for everyone to remember those who have been lost to cancer and to celebrate the lives of those who have survived the disease.
As night falls, we gather to pay tribute to friends, family and loved ones by placing Candles of Hope around the track. A Candle of Hope is a bag, filled with sand and a candle, which is decorated and dedicated to somebody lost to cancer or someone who has beaten the disease. We ask people to make a donation to Cancer Research UK when they dedicate a Candle of Hope.
Watch our video of a Candle of Hope ceremony
How to dedicate a Candle of Hope
If you would like to dedicate a Candle of Hope in memory or celebration of a loved one, find your nearest Relay and download our Candle of Hope form.