Kay Marks knows all too well about how cancer touches the lives of families.

Members of her family have been stricken with the disease, so her work as a fundraising coordinator with the Canadian Cancer Society is a deeply personal cause.

“I buy 10 luminaries for each event I attend and lighting the candle and remembering people who are battling cancer or who have passed away is a very moving experience for me,” said Marks.

On June 20-21 at the ODAS Park Fairgrounds, the Orillia leg of the Relay for Life will take place between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Last year, the Orillia relay raised over $108,000 and $16.7 million was raised across Ontario.

“This year our goals is to raise $130,000 locally,” Marks told Orillia Today.

Since it was first held 10 years ago, Relay for Life has expanded into 23 countries, making it a major global event.

As the June date approaches, Marks said the pace of activity has increased noticeably in the society’s Memorial Avenue office.

“People have been signing up for this event since January. Some of the teams we have involved actually do fundraising all year round,” said Marks.

Preparations for the June event began last fall, when the 15-20 member organizing committee began holding regular meetings.

The Orillia cancer fundraiser is one of four Relays for Life that Marks coordinates during a given year.

“The Orillia relay is the biggest of the four. It is amazing how all the volunteers, team members and survivors come together.

“Being able to watch the Survivors Lap, and then watching the Luminaries Lighting Ceremony, it’s just so incredible,” said Marks.

Recently, John Hucalak, branch manager from Scotiabank was on hand to present a cheque for $5,000 to the Orillia branch of the Canadian Cancer Society, as a kick-start to the 2008 Relay for Life event.

Marks said a team of between 60-100 volunteers would be on-site at ODAS Park during the Friday and Saturday of the event, assisting the 10-member teams that will be participating.

Last year, a total of 70 teams signed up in Orillia and Marks said organizers are hoping for 80 teams or more.

With approximately 25 teams signed up at present, Marks said she expects the bulk of the registrations to come in during the month of May.

The registration fee is $10 per team member and each team member is asked to collect $100 in pledges.

Anyone wishing to enter a team in the June 20-21 Relay for Life in Orillia can do so by contacting the Canadian Cancer Society office at 326-9587 or by clicking the link