VIDEO: 5.48am at Pontypool's Relay for Life. Walkers have raised over £57,000!

Twenty-one teams of walkers have already raised over £57,000 for Cancer Research UK at Pontypool’s Relay for Life.

My dog barked at 4.15am this morning. I couldn’t get back to sleep so headed to Pontypool Park to meet some of the volunteers and walkers who have been walking in relay teams since 11am yesterday.

The annual event sees teams of walkers do relay laps around a section of the park for 24-hours.. They set up camp just like a festival and are entertained and celebrated by the volunteer organisers throughout the event.

Local radio station, SW20, set up in the band stand. Walkers wear headphones and listen to music to avoid disturbing the people taking a rest in the camp.

There was a lovely atmosphere as the walkers chatted and encouraged each other to keep going.

Staff from Pontypool Leisure Centre kept it open all night for anyone who wanted a shower, to use the toilet or grab a bite to eat in the cafe. Yesterday saw a surprise visit from Travis George, Britain’s Got Talent finalist, who sang a song from Les Miserables.

The route was lined with bags containing a Candle of Hope. Anywho could decorate a bag with a message for a loved one and it was lit up overnight with a candle. The hundreds of bags helped marked the course out for the walkers and sent a powerful message of how everyone has been affected by cancer in some way.

I’m now sat in Pontypool McDonald’s writing this story. When I said goodbye to Leanne Powell, a volunteer who was brilliant in a Facebook Live video (scroll down to see it) the amount raised was £52,000. Since arriving here the amount has gone up to £57,000!

Scroll down to see a set of photos I took at around 6.45am.