The Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre’s ‘Relay for Life’ 24-hour charity drive kicked off last night, marking the first time Bermuda has joined in the world’s largest cancer fundraising event.

Premier Michael Dunkley and his wife Pamela Dunkley, a cancer survivor, joined in the event, which Mr Dunkley described as being “very close to my heart,” after witnessing “firsthand the effects that this terrible disease can have on a person”.

“It takes a devastating toll on those who you love and there is such a feeling of helplessness that we as family and friends go through,” said Mr Dunkley. “So I am very pleased to join Pam and her team and support their efforts in what I believe is a tremendously worthy cause.”

Mr Dunkley will be joining his wife’s team in Bermuda’s first Relay For Life event, the largest fundraising event for cancer in the world.

Island participants have formed relay teams to walk around the perimeter track at the National Sports Centre’s North Field starting at 6pm last night and concluding at the same time later today.

“This is an emotionally powerful event for me and I couldn’t help but support the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre,” said Mrs Dunkley. “They have done such an amazing job bringing this event to Bermuda along with their work for cancer awareness, screening, detection and prevention.

“I want to encourage as many people as possible to not only support the Relay For Life movement but to support the ongoing efforts of the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre. Each person’s help can get us that much closer to creating a world where this disease will no longer threaten those who we love.”

The event began with caregivers and survivors of cancer walking while the other participants stood to applaud them.

As night fell, the ‘Luminaria Ceremony’ began, with candle tribute bags inscribed with personal messages lining the track for those who have lost their lives to cancer.

The events executive director Tara Soares said: “Whilst fundraising is an important goal, Relay for Life is more than just that. It’s an opportunity to come together as a community to celebrate those who have survived cancer, and to honour those we have lost to this terrible disease.

“Each day we are working hard to prevent and detect cancer and reduce its impact on those we love. Today thanks to advances in cancer research, more than 60 percent of cancer patients will survive more than five years after diagnosis.”