A CHARITY volunteer hoping to organise an all-night festival of hope and remembrance for cancer sufferers in Stourbridge is appealing to the community to rally round and support the event.

Ian Tucker is trying to organise the town's first-ever Cancer Research UK Relay For Life - a 24-hour bash to help raise money and celebrate the strides being made to help people with cancer.

But he has yet to secure a venue to hold the event - which he hopes to hold this September.

He told the News: "Relay For Life is a unique event. It brings together communities, survivors and those who have been touched by cancer to celebrate life and help raise money.

"It has become an amazing success within the Cancer Research UK fundraising calendar and we are very excited about bringing it to the Stourbridge area. "We are now looking to work with a local school or college to host the event.

"It would be a wonderful experience for all involved, raising the host venue's profile within our local community for a great cause."

The event sees teams take turns to walk around a track in a relay following an opening lap of honour by cancer survivors.

And a host of activities take place throughout the night - and at midnight the atmosphere quietens down for a poignant Candle of Hope ceremony.

It is part of a worldwide fundraising initiative to help combat cancer, which began 20 years ago when Dr Gordon Klatt ran and walked around a track for 24 hours to raise funds for the American Cancer Society in memory of his friend who died of cancer.

Since then the Relay for Life event has been adopted by 20 countries and has raised one billion dollars.

Anyone interested in hosting the event can contact Ian Tucker, chairman of the organising committee, on 0121 429 2133 or email ianrtucker@hotmail.co.uk Or to find out more about Relay For Life go to www.cancerresearchuk.org/relay/