Maitland Relay for Life chairperson Natalie Anderson said there were about 500 people throughout the 24-hour event.

"We had amazing weather, lots of participants and everyone had a really good time," she said.

"It was a perfect weekend."

There was plenty of action including market stalls and the inaugural Bark for Life which saw four-legged canine friends welcomed to do a lap on Saturday morning.

"We had a lot of people come in for the markets, and then people coming for the Bark for Life. It was the first time we've done it and it was more successful than we anticipated," Ms Anderson said.

A national initiative, Relay for Life is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate local cancer survivors, patients and their carers, to honour and remember loved ones lost to cancer and to raise money to help save more lives.

This year, the annual event was held at Marcellin Park on Saturday and Sunday.

"We opened with the survivor and carers lap. We had the CWA cater a afternoon tea for them." Ms Anderson said. "It was really lovely. We also had some therapy dogs who spent some time with survivors and carers.

"I can't put into words how perfect it was. "

Ms Anderson added there was at least 15 on the track - even in the early hours of the morning.

"The spirit of relay is we just keep going because cancer doesn't stop," she said.

"It was really inspiring to see."

The local committee is aiming to raise $70,000 for the Cancer Council. They are also looking for new recruits to sign up and help ensure Relay for Life will keep returning to the community.

"We really more volunteers. We had a very small committee this year with only six people," Ms Anderson said.

"We are putting a challenge out to people. The message is without the committee, the relay can't happen.

"We are hoping people will join up for next year. We will do an information session in November."

In other news: Maitland's Linda Bullent is fighting cancer and fundraising for a cure