Teams of friends, family, neighbours and colleagues are organizing for the 2009 Relay for Life, the premier fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. The Relay for Life typically lasts 12 to 24 hours, runs overnight and includes a Survivor’s Lap of Honour and a moving Candle of Hope ceremony.
The event is designed to celebrate cancer survivorship and raise money for the American Cancer Society. During the event, people gather at their local race track, park or sports field and take turns walking laps. Each team tries to keep at least one member on the track at all times; the participants listen to music, camp out and take part in a variety of family and cancer awareness activities. Participating in one of these events is a great way to have fun, build the community spirit and join the fight against cancer.
The event, which is one of the world’s largest fundraising walk, is currently held in many countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, The Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Portugal, South Africa, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. The American Cancer Society’s International Relay for Life Program provides training and technical assistance to the 19 countries outside of the United States that organize the event. The American Cancer Society licenses International Relay For Life to international cancer organizations with community-based programs and services.
The 2007 Relay for Life raised over $405 million for cancer research. In 1985, Dr. Gordy Klatt, a surgeon who wanted to contribute to the fight against cancer, circled a track in Tacoma’s Baker Stadium for 24 hours, walking 83 miles, to raise money for cancer research and awareness. He managed to raise $24,000. In 1986, 19 teams took part in the first team relay event on the track at the historical Stadium Bowl and raised $33,000.
“Relay For Life is a humbling, inspirational and energizing journey that I encourage everyone to take part in. Working with volunteers and team captains is an amazing experience and just as cancer doesn’t discriminate, Relay holds no barriers to entry either. Every dollar raised helps us to continue providing cancer patients with free services, to promote early detection and healthy lifestyles and to fund cancer research,” says the chair of Relay for Life in New Zeeland, Katherine Monks, according to Relay’s Website.
According to a report released by the U.N. World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer, about 12.4 million cases of some form of cancer will emerge this year with approximately 7.6 million people dying from the disease.
Global experts warn that the increase use of tobacco will turn cancer into the No.1 killer worldwide by 2010. The WHO report disclosed that the most common factors in rising cancer cases are increasing incidence of tobacco use in poor countries – as many rich nations have successfully attempted to reduce smoking – and the aging populations, since the deadly disease is more common in seniors.
