The 12th Relay For Life will see people taking it in turns to complete laps of the track at Victory Stadium in HMS Temeraire, Portsmouth, raising thousands of pounds for Cancer Research UK.

One participant thinks it saved her life. Maxine Kirk went to the doctors after the 2005 Relay For Life because walking in the wet irritated a mole on her foot.

Her GP said there was nothing to worry about, as he had done a year earlier when she complained about it, but he sent her to a specialist who diagnosed skin cancer.

The 42-year-old said: 'They did a biopsy and that came back saying I had a rare form of skin cancer that had nothing to do with the sun.

'I don't blame the doctors for not picking it up sooner as it was nothing like skin cancer is supposed to be.

'It was just like a pink freckle – it wasn't changing colour or shape.

'There's no doubt though, Relay for Life saved my life. I wouldn't have gone to the doctor if I hadn't been running in wet trainers.'

Luckily for Maxine her acral lentiginous melanoma was discovered early enough not to need chemotherapy although she needed to have it removed, along with lymph nodes in her leg.

It is only seen on the palms, soles and under the nails and is most common in Asian and black people.

Maxine, from Southampton, said: 'Relay for Life is a really fun event.

'As well as teams taking it in turns to run or walk around the track we have netball and quizzes.'

To sponsor Maxine's team go to www.donatetomyrelay.org/icon