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Type | Fundraising event for the ACS |
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Region served | Worldwide |
Parent organization | American Cancer Society |
Website | http://relayforlife.org/ |
Relay For Life is a community-based fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. [1] Each year, more than 5,000 Relay For Life events take place in over twenty countries. [2] Events are held in local communities, university campuses and as virtual campaigns. [3] As the American Cancer Society's most successful fundraiser and the organization'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. [4]
A Relay For Life event is organized under a volunteer Relay Committee and implemented by volunteers. [5] [6] 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. Currently, almost 4 million people take part in Relay events in over 5,000 communities in the United States. [7]
It is estimated that Relay For Life events have raised nearly $5 billion to date. [8] The first team to raise over $1 million was the Rosebud Miners. [9] The largest virtual fundraising event is Relay For Life of Second Life, which has raised more than $4,000,000 since 2005. [10]
The following countries hold Relay For Life events: [11] Australia, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, France, Denmark, Guatemala, Honduras, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Portugal, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States and Zambia.
In May 1985, Gordon Klatt, a colorectal surgeon from Tacoma, Washington, decided he wanted to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Because he enjoyed marathons, Klatt walked around the track at Baker Stadium at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma for 24 hours. Throughout the night, friends paid $25 to run or walk 30 minutes with him. He walked approximately 83 miles and raised $27,000 for cancer research. Nearly 300 of Klatt's friends, family, and patients watched as he ran and walked the course. After this event, Klatt thought about how other people could participate in a similar event in their own community. He recruited a small team of people to host the City of Destiny Classic 24-Hour Run Against Cancer. [12]
Many countries participate with their own names for their events.
Country | Translation | Cancer Society |
---|---|---|
Argentina | Relay For Life | Liga Argentina de Lucha Contra el Cáncer |
Australia | Relay For Life | Cancer Council |
Belgium | Levensloop (Dutch) Relais pour la Vie (French) Relay For Life (English) | Stichting tegen Kanker Fondation contre le Cancer Foundation against Cancer |
Bermuda | Relay For Life of Bermuda | Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre (founded by Ron Spencer III) |
Canada | Relais pour la Vie (French) Relay For Life (English) | Société canadienne du cancer Canadian Cancer Society |
France | Relais pour la Vie | Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer |
Denmark | Stafet for Livet | Danish Cancer Society |
Honduras | Relevo por la Vida | Asociacion Hondurena de la Lucha Contra el Cancer |
India | Relay For Life | Indian Cancer Society |
Ireland | Relay For Life | Irish Cancer Society |
Israel | Relay For Life | Israel Cancer Association |
Jamaica | Relay For Life | Jamaica Cancer Society |
Japan | Relay For Life | Japan Cancer Society |
Kenya | Relay For Life | Kencansa (Kenya Cancer Association) |
Luxembourg | Relais pour la Vie | Fondation Cancer |
Malaysia | Relay For Life | NCSM (National Cancer Society of Malaysia) |
Netherlands | Samenloop voor Hoop | KWF Kanker bestrijding Dutch Cancer Society |
New Zealand | Relay For Life | Cancer Society of New Zealand |
Norway | Stafett for livet | Kreft Foreningen Norwegian Cancer Society |
Philippines | Relay For Life | Philippine Cancer Society |
Portugal | Um dia pela Vida | Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro |
Singapore | Relay For Life | Singapore Cancer Society |
South Africa | Relay For Life | Cansa (Cancer Association of South Africa) |
Switzerland | Relay For Life | Krebsliga (Deutch) Swiss Cancer League (English) |
Turkey | Relay For Life | Pembe hanim |
United Arab Emirates | Relay For Life | FOCP (Friends of Cancer Patients) |
United Kingdom | Relay For Life | Cancer Research UK |
United States | Relay For Life | American Cancer Society |
Uruguay | Relevo por la Vida | Peluffo Giguens Foundation |
Zambia | Relay For Life | Zambian Cancer Society |
Although all Relays vary, there are a few common features: [13]
The American Cancer Society defines a cancer survivor as anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer. [14] At most Relay events, a Survivor Dinner is held for survivors in the community. The Survivor Lap, which is often the first lap of a Relay event, is used to identify the survivors. At some events, survivors are invited to speak at Relay events to encourage those with cancer. [15]
At Relay For Life, participants celebrate survivors and remember those lost to the disease. The Luminaria Ceremony is targeted toward remembering. [16] During this time, participants are asked to gather and honor those who have survived cancer and to remember those who have died from cancer. Luminaria bags are often decorated by participants. These bags are often then placed around the track and candles inside the bags are lit before the start of the Luminaria Ceremony. [17] At some Relay events, pictures of cancer patients are shown as songs and readings are delivered.
The Closing Ceremony, held toward the end of Relay events, is when participants pledge to take action and spread awareness of cancer research, treatments, and prevention. Participants are encouraged to hold events in the community to increase awareness of smoking cessation, routine screenings, general cancer awareness and volunteer opportunities. A representative from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) may come to a Relay event and speak about cancer prevention bills and legislation that are trying to be passed as well as encourage ACS CAN participation. [18]
The American Cancer Society states that money raised through Relay For Life events goes to the following efforts: [19]
According to a study conducted by The American Cancer Society in 2013, the following was noted for how funds raised by Relay For Life have impacted communities nationwide:
The American Cancer Society (ACS) is a nationwide non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating cancer. Established in 1913, the society is organized into six geographical regions of both medical and lay volunteers operating in more than 250 Regional offices throughout the United States. Its global headquarters is located in the American Cancer Society Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The ACS publishes the journals Cancer, CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians and Cancer Cytopathology.
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Luminaria is a term used in different parts of the world to describe various types of holiday lights, usually displayed during Christmas. In English, the term most commonly refers to a specific type of simple paper lantern made by placing a votive candle in some sand inside a paper bag. Also known as a farolito, it is a traditional Christmas decoration in the Southwestern United States, particularly New Mexico, where it is a cultural hallmark of the Pueblos and Hispanos of New Mexico and a part of the state's distinct heritage. Luminarias are usually placed in rows along walls, roofs, and walkways to form a holiday display, especially on Christmas Eve.
The Jimmy Fund, established in Boston in 1948, is made up of community-based fundraising events and other programs that benefit Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Since 1948, millions of people have given money to the Jimmy Fund to help save lives and reduce the burden of cancer for patients and families worldwide.
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The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society. It was founded in September 2001 to directly lobby the goals of the American Cancer Society, which is subject to restrictions on advocacy activities because of its tax classification. ACS CAN works to make cancer a national priority. Specifically, it advocates for better access to care, cancer prevention and early detection programs, cancer research funding, regulation of tobacco by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, better quality of life for cancer patients, and attempts to raise awareness of and reduce cancer disparities. Members include cancer survivors, caregivers, patients, volunteers, and students, including Colleges Against Cancer.
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Gordon Klatt, M.D. (1942-2014) was a practicing surgeon in Tacoma, Washington, and the founder of the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life.
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