KEY POINTS:
Cancer patient Lynne Giles has big ambitions this weekend - she is hoping to complete 100 laps in an overnight relay event to help raise money for the Cancer Society.
The 56-year-old was diagnosed with bowel cancer at the end of 2004 and has already taken part in three of the Cancer Society's Relay for Life events.
She first took part in the event only six weeks after she had her first surgery, but she couldn't manage many laps.
"My daughter rang me and said one of her friends was doing the Relay for Life and asked me if I would like to come along. It was just amazing to see all these people and the joy on their faces and the confidence. I thought if all these people can do it, I can do it too."
The former swimming instructor now hopes she will be able to complete 100 laps this weekend at the event with her team, Lynne's Angels.
But it hasn't been smooth sailing. Despite surgery, the cancer came back in 2005 and had spread.
Ms Giles had further surgery and radiation treatment and was told last November that she was on the mend.
She will find out at her next appointment in April whether she is in remission. "Hopefully I am."
And Ms Giles can't praise the Cancer Society enough for its services and support.
"It was just an amazing place to go to and I never knew that support system was in place until it happened to me."
The Cancer Society's Relay for Life will be held this weekend at the Sovereign Stadium at the Millennium Institute in Mairangi Bay, and another on March 8-9 at the Franklin A&P Showgrounds in Pukekohe.
The relay starts today at 2pm and lasts for 24 hours.
www.relayforlife.org.nz
