TWEED parents will have a good reason to let their kids stay up all night on March 10 next year.

In fact, whole families and all their friends can get together and run laps around the Tweed Heads PCYC in the name of charity.

The Tweed Valley Relay for Life was launched at the Banora Point Oasis Pools complex on Saturday, with sausage sizzles and giveaways enticing teams to sign up for the 2012 event to raise money for cancer research, education and support services.

Committee member June Richards knows better than most the devastating effect cancer can have on families and loved ones.

Mrs Richards lost her husband to pancreatic cancer in September, prompting her to get involved in the Relay for Life.

"Often it's not until someone close to you goes through cancer that you realise you can do something to help others," she said.

"We've launched it early to give people plenty of time to get teams together and to attract as many families as possible.

"We are getting a lot of word out there and we feel like we've really started to achieve something."

The relay will begin at 3pm on March 10 and end at 10am the following morning, with live music and entertainment throughout the night.

The money raised will go towards services such as the Cancer Council Helpline and a new Cancer Council Information Centre, due to open in Tweed Hospital early next year.

In the past, other Far North Coast relays have had up to 70 teams register. The Tweed organising committee is setting the bar high and aims to better this figure.

To get involved, call June on 0407 592 790 or visit www.relayforlife.com.au/nsw.