What is Relay for Life? Relay for Life is the nationwide signature activity for the American Cancer Society.  In May 1985, Gordon Klatt took the first step of his 24-hour marathon around a Tacoma, WA track and raised $27,000 for the ACS.  The following year 340 supporters joined Dr. Klatt in this overnight event & Relay for Life was born.  Relay for Life is not just a fund-raiser; it is a unique activity that offers an opportunity to take up the fight.  It is about empowering individuals to fight back against a disease that has taken so much from them.  Relay for Life provides our best opportunity for expanding fund-raising, cancer control, advocacy, and volunteerism in communities throughout the nation.  Since the first Relay in 1985, the event has raised more than half a billion dollars.

Cancer Never Sleeps
Relay for Life starts just before dusk and ends at the next day's morning.  The light and darkness of the day and night parallel the physical effects, emotion and mental state of a cancer patient while undergoing treatment.   The Relay begins just before the sun is setting.  Many times we never know when cancer will strike.  The sunshine of the day makes us feel healthy and alive until one day when someone we love or we, ourselves, hear the dreaded words, "You have cancer", and the sun begins to set.  This symbolizes the time that the person has been diagnosed as having cancer.  The day continues to grow darker, which represents the caner patient's state of mind as they feel despair - that their life may be coming to an end.

As the event goes on, it gets colder and darker, just as the emotions of the cancer patient does.  The time around 1:00-2:00 AM represents when the cancer patient begins the treatment for their disease.  They become exhausted, some sick, not wanting to go on, possibly wanting to give up.  As a participant in Relay for Life, you have been walking and feel much the same way.  You are tired, want to sleep, maybe even want to go home, BUT you cannot stop or give up because cancer never sleeps.

The time around 4:00-5:00 AM symbolizes the coming of the end of treatment for the cancer patient.  It has been a long, dark battle.  Still, they are tired, but begin to believe that they will make it.   The sun rising represents the end of treatment for the cancer patient and a renewed hope.  They see the light at the end of the tunnel and know that life will go on!  The morning light brings on a new day full of life and excitement for new beginnings for the cancer patient.  As a participant in Relay for Life, you will feel the brightness of the morning and know that the end of the Relay is close at hand.   When you leave the Relay, think of the cancer patient leaving their last treatment.  Just as you are exhausted and weak, so is that person after treatment.  And remind yourself why we walk…There is no finish line until we find a cure!