A FATHER of two and a grandfather of two, who is surviving cancer is urging people to join Cancer Research UK's Relay For Life in the Marches and Mid Wales.

Relay For Life is a unique celebration of life and hope, which unites communities to help beat over 200 types of cancer.

Mick Fryer is encouraging friends, families and work colleagues to join together and enter teams for the exciting, overnight event which takes place at John Beddoes, Presteigne on July 12 13 and gathered together with other friends and committee members taking part dressed in purple - the colour of relay.

Mick also hopes that other cancer survivors, and people currently undergoing treatment, will join him and take part in the inspirational Lap of Honour which marks the start of the fundraising festival.

When Mick was diagnosed with cancer in 2002, he had a pain in his groin which he thought was a hernia. He was with treated radiotherapy and hormone implants. Now 12 years later he is leading the Relay For Life to raise funds to conquer the disease.

During the relay itself, team members take it in turns to walk round a track while everyone else enjoys a wide range of fun activities on offer. As Relay For Life is non-stop through the night, those team members not on the track can take turns to rest, eat, or sleep in their tents which are set up close by.

As dusk falls, the atmosphere quietens as the Candle of Hope ceremony begins. The event is the most poignant part of Relay For Life when specially made Candle of Hope bags - decorated with touching messages in memory or in celebration of loved ones - are filled with sand and lit with candles around the track. This is the first time Relay For Life has taken place in The Marches and mid Wales.

Mick continued: "More than one in three people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their lives. Taking part in Relay For Life is about being part of the community united in the belief that it can make a difference and help beat cancer. We have made so much progress in the fight against this devastating disease, but it's not just technology or knowledge that we need to win the battle to beat cancer- its funding."

Money raised through Relay For Life funds the work of thousands of scientists, doctors and nurses who are dedicated to saving more lives by preventing, controlling and curing all cancers.

Thanks to Cancer Research UK's work, more people are surviving cancer than ever before. Survival rates have doubled over the last 40 years and the charity's work has been at the heart of that progress. But despite improvements in treatment, cancer causes more than one in four of all deaths in the UK. Cancer Research UK wants to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured and needs the help of people across the Marches and mid Wales to help save many more lives.

To register for the event or for more information about Relay For Life visit cruk.org/relay.