It's All Because Of You...

Thank you Relayers!
Because of you, the fight against cancer is stronger than ever.

Last year you were among the 3.5 million people who came together across the country through Relay and helped raise more than $409 million to save lives. We’re confident that, in spite of difficult economic times, we can top those numbers this year and continue working together to help people stay well and get well, by finding cures, and by fighting back against cancer.

When you sign up online for Relay For Life, you are helping create a world with less cancer and more birthdays where cancer never steals a year from anyone else’s life.

There are several Relays in Arizona this year including the Relay For Life of Gilbert and the Relay For Life of ASU - both taking place on April 16, or you can find a Relay near you.

If you have friends, family, and coworkers who want to join you, consider forming a Relay team for this year. You’ll have all the tools you need to be a successful team once you sign up online, and we’ll be with you every step of the way!

Relay Tip: Double Donations With Matching Gifts

You've found your nearest Relay For Life event and signed up, right? So let's share some fundraising tips and work together to make sure it's a successful Relay.

Matching gifts are an easy way to double the dollars you raise to support the American Cancer Society Relay For Life. Many people don’t realize that their employers will match gifts made to the American Cancer Society. In some cases, you can turn your $100 donation into $200 just by filling out a simple form. Check with your human resources department to see if your company offers matching gifts and then remind those who donate to you to do the same.

The American Cancer Society has a quick and easy tool to help you determine whether your employer offers a matching gifts program. You can search for your company or call your human resources department directly.

If your company does not match gifts, the American Cancer Society offers many other opportunities for businesses to join us in our mission to saves lives and create a world with more birthdays. For more information, call 1-800-227-2345 or visit ACS Workplace Solutions.

Help Save Lives

When you get involved with the American Cancer Society Relay For Life®, you help save lives!

Cancer has affected nearly all of us in some way, either personally or through the struggle of a loved one. We appreciate the time and energy you give to help us keep fighting back so we can create a world with less cancer and more birthdays.

Every dollar Relay participants raise saves lives every day by helping people stay well and get well, by finding cures, and fighting back.

We hope you can join us for another unforgettable night where we’ll come together to celebrate, remember, and fight back! Sign up for this year’s Relay For Life today. The Gilbert, AZ Relay For Life and the ASU Relay For Life are taking place April 16, or or you can find a Relay near you!

Here are a few easy things you can do to stay well and reduce your cancer risk:

Maintain a healthy body weight by eating right

Engage in moderate to vigorous regular physical activity (at least 45 to 60 minutes on 5 or more days of the week). Walking in Relay For Life counts!

Reduce the amount of alcohol you drink to no more than 1 drink per day for women (and no more than 2 drinks per day for men).

Be a Relay For Life Committee Member!

By taking part in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life, you join a worldwide movement that brings together millions of people for a single purpose – to help eliminate cancer. Relay events give everyone a chance to celebrate people who have been touched by cancer, remember loved ones lost, and to fight back against a disease that takes too much.

A successful Relay For Life needs these 3 very important things: Survivors, Teams and Committee Members. Being a committee member means that you are part of the group of people who plan and execute the actual Relay event and there are several committee positions to choose from.

The committee is composed of many different people with many different skills for the many different features of Relay For Life. Led by "chairs," some committee members focus on growing the event, like recruiting new teams, finding sponsors, survivors, helping teams learn more about Relay For Life and the American Cancer Society. Other committee members focus on event production, like event night activities, logistics, planning ceremonies, advertising the event, and much more.

Every committee in every event is always looking for new members.

The success of an event depends on having new committee members bringing fresh ideas each year. If you are someone who is passionate about the fight against cancer, is motivated to fight back, wants to represent the American Cancer Society in your community...then you are a committee member. You just need to find a Relay For Life near you and sign up!

In this video, Relay For Life (Chapel Hill) committee members share their reasons to Relay.

Cancer Survivors Are Invited!

Cancer survivors are invited to join Relay For Life and be a part of the cancer survivors' lap, which opens every event. Cancer survivors walk the initial lap which symbolizes the courage that survivors and their families display and sustain in their lives. Relay For Life is a moving celebration of cancer survivorship.

Everyone can participate in American Cancer Society's Relay For Life! Get a group of your friends together as a Relay team and join us for up to 24 hours of fun, excitement, and an all-around great time. We'll have music, food, contests, awards, and prizes. At the same time, you will be honoring the courageous spirit of those who are battling cancer and remembering those who we have lost. You don't need to be a track star to be a winner in this race for life.

There are several Relays scheduled in Arizona(and across the United States) so please check here to find one near you. If you've Relayed before, let me know about your experience!

Below is a great video from the Gilbert, AZ 2009 Relay For Life.

So… What is Relay For Life Anyway?

Relay For Life began in 1985 when Dr. Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon in Tacoma, Washington, ran and walked around a track for 24 hours to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Since then, Relay has grown from a single man’s passion to fight cancer into the world’s largest movement to end the disease.

What Happens at a Relay?

Relay starts with a Survivors Lap – a inspirational time when survivors are invited to kick off the event, circle the track together and help everyone celebrate the victories we’ve achieved over cancer.

After dark, we honor people who have been touched by cancer and remember loved ones lost to the disease during the Luminaria Ceremony. Candles are lit inside bags filled with sand, each one bearing the name of a person touched by cancer, and participants often walk a lap in silence.

Last, there is a Fight Back Ceremony, where we make a personal commitment to save lives by taking up the fight against cancer. That personal commitment may be to do something as simple as getting a screening test, quitting smoking, or talking to elected officials about cancer.

It's important to note that anyone can participate in a Relay For Life event. You can join an existing team, start your own team, or participate as an individual. Check out this virtual tour of a Relay event.

Everyone's reason to Relay is unique. Some find healing, comfort, and support from others who have faced cancer or who have lost a loved one. Others enjoy meeting people in the community who are equally as passionate about finding an end to cancer. Find a Relay near you and join with your community to celebrate survivors, remember those we have lost, and fight back against cancer.