Friends, families, survivors, battlers and carers all united at the Northern Athletics Centre at St Leonards for Relay for Life, the 21^st time the event has been held in Launceston.

There was barely a dry eye at the event - let alone a dry body, with the rain pouring on participants - but that did little to deter walkers, runners and pram pushers for taking their laps.

For many, the cancer cause was extremely close to their hearts - with many taking to the track with their loved ones, or in their memory.

The Mohr Clan joined as a family, having recently lost a loved one.

When asked why she was doing the Relay for Life, 6 year old Penelope said "for Pa".

"We lost our Dad in December just gone to bowel cancer, so we're here to get together as a family and raise some money," her aunt Lillian Mohr added.

"He'd be really proud I'm sure."

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The wet weather was a motivator for some participants.

"Cancer doesn't worry about the weather or the places that you live, it's all about continuing the cause, and I'm going to be on the track 24-7," Kate Phillips said.

Ms Phillips was part of Team Dent-all, a group of dental industry professionals united for the common cause of raising funds to support research.

"Oral cancer has a high percentage of mortality and we like to spread the awareness of the importance of oral health," Ms Phillips said.

"As an industry we'd like to support overall wellbeing via the efforts of the Cancer Council and Relay for Life, we have a few dental practices that have come together to support this team."

The family connection strong for Sarah-Kate Tomkinson, who walked as part of Team for Tonk.

"We are doing it for my dad, who we lost about nine years ago," Ms Tomkinson said.

"He had leukaemia, and we've done it with family and friends ever since.

"Everybody that loves him, we come and celebrate Tonk."

Cancer Council Tasmania chief executive Penny Egan said she was thrilled by the turnout.

"It's been amazing, we weren't expecting to have so many people, let alone people raising so much money, in the year that's been," Ms Egan said.

"We knew people had many other priorities in their lives, so we feel very privileged that we've had this support for Relay for Life and for Cancer Council Tasmania.

Cancer Council Tasmania is funded predominantly via public donations, with Relay for Life events each year a significant part of the charity's fundraising efforts.

With a COVID-safe plan in place, the event has raised more than $150,000.

"For us, it was really important to be able to hold the event again," Ms Egan said.

"It was about making sure that people knew it was a safe event, and people with cancer if they came knew they would be in a safe space.

"We never expected this much support... this has just been a fantastic outcome."

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