Stay up all night and party for a good cause with Kuala Lumpur’s second Relay for Life. The event starts at 6pm on May 31, stretches until the next morning at 10am and is not just an awareness campaign but also a show of support to those fighting with cancer and a memorial for friends and family who have fallen to the disease.

What’s particularly inspirational about this event is that the attention is on real people who are affected by cancer. This is demonstrated through ‘The Survivors’ Lap’ where survivors from the community walk the first lap around the track to celebrate their personal victories while being enthusiastically cheered on by families and friends. Last year, 350 survivors participated in this extraordinary, emotion-filled lap and the organizer is expecting more to complete the circuit this year.

Everyone is welcome to participate in the relay part. They just need at least a person on the track at all times during the entire 16-hour duration. This is to signify the community’s concerted effort to not drop the baton and continue the fight against cancer, plus celebrate life, which must go on for us, whatever illness may strike us or our loved ones.

If you like, you can also camp overnight at the stadium and be part of the party atmosphere. An extensive line-up of dance, entertainment, games, food and activities have been planned to suit all ages including yoga, jazzercise and line dancing.

But as at all tribute events, there will be a time for solemn reflection. At Relay for Life, the Luminaria Ceremony is a candlelight procession dedicated to honouring the memory of those who have lost their lives to cancer.
Relay for Life is held in 23 countries and has become the world’s largest fundraiser for cancer research, a battle which participants in the event are determined not to lose. You can join their fight against one of Malaysia’s biggest killers at Bukit Jalil this May 31.