The vice-chairman of the Fairfield Relay for Life committee, Lee Falappi, said the turnout made the event "one of the fastest-growing relays in the country".

Donations are still being collected and counted, but Mr Falappi said he was expecting to see a significant increase on last year's $81,000 effort.

"We hope to achieve our target of $150,000," he said. "We're pretty confident we'll get there."

The relay started at 10am on Saturday in Horsley Park Showground.

Teams took it in turns to walk or run around the park over a 24-hour period.

Mr. Falappi said his contribution, which included six hours walking on a sprained ankle during a sleepless weekend, was "a tribute" to his wife, a cancer survivor who has lost five members of her immediate family to the disease.

The money raised will help fund cancer research, support services and advocacy.