HUNDREDS OF fundraisers flocked to Yate last weekend for a 24-hour relay event, successfully raising more than £41,000.

Relay For Life, held at Yate Outdoor Sports Complex from July 1-2 for the 12th time, was another landmark success.

This year's event has currently raised £8,000 more than last year with 471 participants from 38 teams.

All the money raised will go to Cancer Research UK to fund further research and future cures.

Organiser Beverly Sadier told the Gazette: “This year has been such a vibrant Relay, with so many people taking part from 10 week old babies to scouts, schools, amazing local businesses, sports clubs through to our amazing U3A.

“All the Relayers really got into the swing of it, we had quite a number of new teams this year and they have surpassed our expectations.”

The aim for this year’s fundraising is to raise £58,000 by September.

Team members took it in turn to walk or run around the track non-stop for 24 hours in an impressive display of endurance.

The top five fundraisers included Yate Athletic Club (£2,954), Rays 4 Life (£2,421), Sole Strutters (£2,089), The Golden Ones (£1,933) and Arny’s Army (£1,754).

Another organiser Liam Craddock said: “From our amazing event sponsor Ergochair who came down and gave out freebies, to Propertywise staff who dressed up in bras for one of our laps to the awesome fundraising our teams have done this year.

“Yate Relay 2017 has not only been amazingly fun, but Yate as a community has so far raised an amazing £41,000.”

The event also featured a lap for cancer survivors and in the evening fundraisers gathered to light ‘Candles of Hope’ and pay tribute to those whose lives have been affected by cancer.

To donate visit yaterelayforlife.org.uk/home/donate.html