The Relay for Life, an annual 24-hour cancer charity fundraiser marked around the world, has doubled in size since its Bermuda launch in 2014.

The relay closed at 6.30pm on Saturday with $451,495 raised for cancer prevention and detection.

Founder Ron Spencer said 3,700 people turned out at the National Sport Centre’s North Field, up from 1,700 last year.

It has taken Mr Spencer years of work to get the event started, and keeping it going as something just as established as the Bermuda Day holiday that precedes it. The undertaking was in conjunction with the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre, as well as the American Cancer Society, which sent a team to the Island in 2013 to train volunteers in running the event.

Bermuda’s second Relay for Life was not without incident: a car fire some hours into the first night was put out by bystanders.

But the celebratory mood and large numbers of tents and stalls brought a carnival atmosphere to the relay, and cheers broke across North Field as the teams closed 24 straight hours of walking around the track.

All told, more than 160 teams pitched in — ranging in size from ten to 15 members, with corporate teams of 80 and more.

“I never realised it would be this big,” said an elated Mr Spencer, describing himself as dazed but happy after staying up all night.

The funds raised last year helped the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre to bring in more cancer treatment resources to the Island.

“I think by next year we’ll have ten per cent of the Island’s population showing up,” Mr Spencer said.

“It’s going to be an annual event following the May 24 holiday. Everyone in Bermuda has been affected in some way by cancer.”

Mr Spencer has high hopes for the Relay for Life growing into a full-blown entertainment event to accompany the walkers taking circuits of the track.

Ninety-five per cent of the funds raised go to the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre’s work to combat cancer. Most recently, the charity was able to establish radiation treatment on the Island.

“The Relay for Life was a major fundraising vehicle for making this happen,” said Tara Soares, executive director of the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre. “Last year we raised just over $300,000.

“This year is absolutely phenomenal.”

Participants marked the close of the event by switching directions for a last circle of North Field as organisers took to the podium to announce the initial amounts raised, and thank those who helped to make the relay happen.