At 11: 30 a.m. on Wednesday, Brookswood Secondary student Emily Peck was hoping to find enough students to fill six teams for the Langley Relay for Life.

By the end of lunch at the Langley high school, she had nine teams of students ready to take part in the annual Canadian Cancer Society fundraiser.

Peck, now in Grade 12, is a five-year veteran of the Langley Relay for Life, a 12-hour non-competitive walking relay to raise money for cancer research and patient support.

She's helping to organize the effort to make this a big year at a school that was already one of the most involved in the Langley Relay for Life.

Peck has lost grandparents to cancer, and an aunt was recently diagnosed.

"I want to make sure I'm part of the solution," she said.

She has already made a presentation, with her fellow students, to the school board, which is now putting together its own team.

"We're hoping that other schools get involved," Peck said.

The Brookswood students plan to challenge teams from other schools, to get a little friendly com-petition going in the fundraising arena.

A number of schools from around Langley have been involved over the years, including D.W. Poppy, Walnut Grove, and Credo Christian high schools, and Glenwood Elementary.

The leadership students at Brookswood have really taken on Relay and made it their own at the school, said Shannon Todd-Booth, who works organizing Relay for the Canadian Cancer Society.

This year's Relay will be held on Friday, June 21 at the McLeod Athletic Park track. The 12-hour event starts Friday evening and teams take turns walking the track until 7 a.m. Saturday morning, with remembrance of those lost to cancer mixed with more lighthearted events.

Learn more about Relay for Life and join or donate at http: //www.relaybc.ca.

mclaxton@langleyadvance.com