THE TURNOUT for the Relay for Life launch last Thursday made it clear the people of the Southern Highlands are keen to get together and support a great cause.

Gibraltar Hotel hosted the event and has donated a prize for the 2012 Southern Highlands Relay for Life Raffle, which includes 13 very generous prizes from Highlands' businesses.

Southern Highlands Relay for Life committee chair Judi O'Brien said that last year the Southern Highlands raised $250,000 for Relay for Life through 1400 participants and 90-odd teams.

"We are aiming for $200,000 this year and we'd like to get 1500 participants and 100 teams," she said.

"We'd like to get more people involved and get the community working together."

This will be the fourth Southern Highlands Relay for Life and Ms O'Brien said that by the end of this Relay for Life in the Southern Highlands would have raised close to $1 million.

"From a population base of about 45,000 people, this is awesome," Ms O'Brien said.

"Relay is not just about the money. It's about the community getting together to celebrate survivors, honour those who have lost their life to cancer and give the message of hope as well as fight back with positive action."

Relay for Life will be held on April 28 and 29 this year and the 24-hour event will be filled with entertainment and reflect the Southern Highlands in every way.

"All our food will be catered from the Southern Highlands, including a 24-hour Rotary barbecue," Ms O Brien said.

The focus would be on making the event new and different.

"We want it to be a truly Southern Highlands event that families, children, parents, grandparents, school children and people from all sections of our community will enjoy," she said

Visit relay.cancercouncil.com.au/2012/s outhern_highlands_2012 to register a team.

"Don't just donate, participate," Ms O'Brien said.