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Relay For Life
Relay For Life is a community-based walkathon and the largest fundraising event of the American Cancer Society (ACS). Teams of people, varying in size, alternate between walking laps and interacting with other aspects of the fundraiser. Each year, more than 5,000 Relay For Life events are held in local communities, university campuses, and as virtual campaigns over twenty countries. As the American Cancer Society's signature event, the mission of Relay For Life is to raise funds to improve cancer survival, decrease the incidence of cancer, and improve the quality of life for cancer patients and their caretakers.
A Relay For Life event is organized under a volunteer Relay Committee and implemented by volunteers. It is often organized as a multi-day public gathering, spanning all day and night in a large outdoor space, and many people bring tents and camp out around the walking tracks.
According to the Relay for Life 2024 Impact Report, 165,000 participants in the US raised $68 million dollars. Since 1985, $6.9 Billion dollars has been raised from Relay For Life events.
Dr. Gordon Klatt, a volunteer for the American Cancer Society and a colorectal surgeon from Tacoma, Washington, wanted to find new ways to fundraise for the organization. In May 1985, he started a walking marathon to bring awareness around cancer and to raise funds for his local charity. Due to his enjoyment of marathons, Klatt walked around the track at Baker Stadium at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma for 24 hours. The 24-hour length represents the ongoing fight someone with a cancer diagnosis participates in. Throughout the night, friends paid $25 to run or walk 30 minutes with him. He walked approximately 83 miles and raised $27,000 for the American Cancer Society. Nearly 300 of Klatt's friends, family, and patients watched as he ran and walked the course.
Following the event, Pat Flynn, an employee of Tacoma Public Schools, heard about Gordon's efforts and donated $10 to the cause. Klatt heard about this gesture and the two met up to discuss how this event could happen again the following year. Dr. Klatt spread the word of the event around his community to raise funds and invite participants.
Dr. Gordon Klatt and Pat Flynn, now named the "Mother of Relay", held the first official Relay For Life team event, called the City of Destiny Classic 24-hour Run Against Cancer, the next year at Stadium Bowl with 19 teams and raised $33,000.
Following the second "Relay", Dr. Gordan Klatt shared his event by traveling the United States and sharing his story through Terry Zahn, a news anchor from Virginia. in 1992, the American Cancer Society National Home Office heard about Dr. Klatt and Pat Flynn's event, and Relay For Life became the organization's signature event. In 1988, Seattle's Relay For Life held the first Luminaria Ceremony. Portsmouth, England held the first Global Relay For Life in 1997. The money raised was given to Cancer Research UK.
From these grassroots beginnings, Relay For Life grew into a global movement and the American Cancer Society’s signature fundraiser. Over the past four decades, it has united millions of people across the world and raised more than $7 billion in the fight against cancer.
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Relay For Life AI simulator
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Relay For Life
Relay For Life is a community-based walkathon and the largest fundraising event of the American Cancer Society (ACS). Teams of people, varying in size, alternate between walking laps and interacting with other aspects of the fundraiser. Each year, more than 5,000 Relay For Life events are held in local communities, university campuses, and as virtual campaigns over twenty countries. As the American Cancer Society's signature event, the mission of Relay For Life is to raise funds to improve cancer survival, decrease the incidence of cancer, and improve the quality of life for cancer patients and their caretakers.
A Relay For Life event is organized under a volunteer Relay Committee and implemented by volunteers. It is often organized as a multi-day public gathering, spanning all day and night in a large outdoor space, and many people bring tents and camp out around the walking tracks.
According to the Relay for Life 2024 Impact Report, 165,000 participants in the US raised $68 million dollars. Since 1985, $6.9 Billion dollars has been raised from Relay For Life events.
Dr. Gordon Klatt, a volunteer for the American Cancer Society and a colorectal surgeon from Tacoma, Washington, wanted to find new ways to fundraise for the organization. In May 1985, he started a walking marathon to bring awareness around cancer and to raise funds for his local charity. Due to his enjoyment of marathons, Klatt walked around the track at Baker Stadium at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma for 24 hours. The 24-hour length represents the ongoing fight someone with a cancer diagnosis participates in. Throughout the night, friends paid $25 to run or walk 30 minutes with him. He walked approximately 83 miles and raised $27,000 for the American Cancer Society. Nearly 300 of Klatt's friends, family, and patients watched as he ran and walked the course.
Following the event, Pat Flynn, an employee of Tacoma Public Schools, heard about Gordon's efforts and donated $10 to the cause. Klatt heard about this gesture and the two met up to discuss how this event could happen again the following year. Dr. Klatt spread the word of the event around his community to raise funds and invite participants.
Dr. Gordon Klatt and Pat Flynn, now named the "Mother of Relay", held the first official Relay For Life team event, called the City of Destiny Classic 24-hour Run Against Cancer, the next year at Stadium Bowl with 19 teams and raised $33,000.
Following the second "Relay", Dr. Gordan Klatt shared his event by traveling the United States and sharing his story through Terry Zahn, a news anchor from Virginia. in 1992, the American Cancer Society National Home Office heard about Dr. Klatt and Pat Flynn's event, and Relay For Life became the organization's signature event. In 1988, Seattle's Relay For Life held the first Luminaria Ceremony. Portsmouth, England held the first Global Relay For Life in 1997. The money raised was given to Cancer Research UK.
From these grassroots beginnings, Relay For Life grew into a global movement and the American Cancer Society’s signature fundraiser. Over the past four decades, it has united millions of people across the world and raised more than $7 billion in the fight against cancer.