ON Friday night we headed for the Xerox complex on the Dublin Road where a special unique and special fundraising night was being held.

The Relay For Life drive for the Irish Cancer Society 24 hour walk was taking place and there was a fantastic buzz going on when we arrived.

Not only where there a huge number of stalls selling and raffling items, but everyone there was actively taking part in the walk at various times during the 24 hours.

Along with volunteers, there were quite a few cancer survivors who were all walking the circuit and thoroughly enjoying the whole occasion.

I was only in the door when I met up two survivors and they were my two old friends Lucy Maguire from De La Salle Terrace and Caroline Myers McCabe from Woodview Park who told me they thought there wasn't enough walking, they were well fit for 24 hours and Lucy told me she gets plenty of practise because she walks with the Druids Hillwalkers.

I then headed over to the De La Salle school stall where I caught up with Wayne O'Shaughnessy from Fatima Court, Patrick Savage from Fr Murray Park, Conor Murphy from Blackrock, James Kieran from Oliver Plunkett Park, Eamonn Rogers from Blackrock and Jack Arthurs from Blackrock who told me they had a signed Dundalk FC jersey to raffle along with tea, coffee and cakes all for sale. They were joined by Gavin Malone from Kilkerley who was walking on behalf of his mum Janet.

Next I joined up with some of the Fun Fit walkers and they included my friend Wesleigh O'Hagan from Dowdallshill who was walking with David Lyseight from Blackrock and Ruth Dowdall from Greyacre Road who were having a great laugh together and told me they were well fit for the 24 hours.

I then headed for the Family Guys table where they were doing face painting, homemade breads, books, a table quiz and photography and they told me they were being led by number one mum Nancy McKeever from Beechmount Drive who was keeping an eye on the extended McKeever/Quigley clan and they included Phil and Eugene Quigley from Mounthamilton Close, Catherine McKeever from Blackrock, Sinead McKeever from Belfry Gardens, Patricia McKeever from Ard Easmuinn, Denise and Dylan Quigley from Bay Estate and Martin and Catherine McKeever from Blackrock who were all in great form and thoroughly enjoying the occasion.

Beside them was the Think Twice table where I met up with the man dressed as a woman Ciaran Fealy from Bellurgan, Fiona McGailey from Mourne Vale who told me her husband Owen, son Jack and daughter Caoimhe were all out walking, granny Peggy McGailey from Boyle O'Reilly Terrace, Ciaran's wife Dolores, their daughter Karen, Mary Murphy from Greenacres, Josephine Bell from Castletown Road, Briege Faughey from Faughart, Cathy Nolan from Ard Easmuinn, Ursula Bellew from Headford, Angela Savage from Parnell Park and Mary Mackin from Muirhevnamor who were all up for making loads of money for the cause and enjoying the craic.

I then headed over for a chat with Sarah Faux from Blackrock who was there with Vincent McCrory from Blackrock who was walking on behalf of his late mother Kathleen.

Not too long later I headed over to the Louth Hospital's stall where they were highlighting hand hygiene and alcohol awareness by getting people to measure out standard drinks and they had a pair of 'high five' beer goggles that distort the perception of distance and they were Rose Byrne from Avenue Road and Andy Cooney from Drogheda.

Not too long later I caught up with Siobhan Smyth from Meath from the Irish Cancer Society and Briege King from Carrickmacross who told me they were at the Cancer Prevention stall and also gave information on how to quit smoking.

Next I headed over for a chat with one time Argus supremo, the now legendary Liam Murphy from Avondale who was with the Louth Youth Work Ireland and he was with Ann McDonald from Bay Estate, Bernie King from Cooley Park, Emma Maguire from Toberona and they wanted a special mention for Wella Liston from Anne Street who had baked all the food for their stall and done loads of the preparation work and also for Marion McGahey from Griffith Place who is their team leader. They also had survivor Rosella McDonagh from Lios Dubh on their team and she was enjoying the craic as she walked around.

After this I got a word with Suzanne Stafford and Trevor Craig both from College Manor who were walking for The House in Coxes Demesne and they were with Vincy McCrory and his daughter Mia. When I asked Vincy would he be able to able to last the 24 hours, he told me partied longer than that!

I then ventured over for a chat with Niall Halpin from Suil Na Mara who told me he was down to support his sister-in-law Lisa Halpin who was one of the main organisers of the night.

Making my way through the crowds I caught with more of Fun Fit and they included Ruth Dowdall, Diarmuid Duffy from Blackrock and Michael Sweeney also from Blackrock.

One man who certainly is in good shape and was busy walking around was Marshes Shopping Centre manager Harry Traynor who told me he was there to do the 24 hours and after it finished on Saturday he was heading home to his beloved Fermanagh where is also a referee and he was due to take control of a underage game on Saturday and a senior game on Sunday!

I then caught up with Gerard Tasker from Jonesboro who was there with brother John from Jonesboro and Conor Tasker from Oakland Park who were talking to Pauline Malone from Rathcor who was on the Dundalk Town Council stall who were selling a wide variety of products and had loads of great things to raffle.

Pauline was joined by Caith Griffin, Olive Duffy from Channonrock, Donna White from Cooley, Dave Storey from Dublin, Dora Minogue from Belfry Gardens, Rosie O'Reilly from Dunmor, Benedicta McArdle from Dromiskin, Conor Sloan from County Down, Aenat Nic Gabhann from Cullaville, Frank Pentony from Drogheda as well as Ray McCoy from Point Road and Justin Sexton from Blackrock who were busy playing the Wii when I caught up with them

Finally, before we departed I met up with a couple of lads who were selling the candles of hope, symbols of those who have died in the area from cancer and they were Conor Smith from Blackrock and Seamus Corcoran from Hackballscross who were busy making sure that everyone bought at least a programme for such a worthy cause.