In May of 1985, a doctor by the name of Gordon “Gordy” Klatt walked and ran around a track located at the University of Puget Sound for an entire day in Tacoma, Washington. His goal, which was to raise money and awareness for the American Cancer Society was ultimately successful. As Klatt ran 83.6 miles, he was able to raise funds of up to $27,000, with friends and family cheering him on throughout the entire day. After completing the miraculous event, Klatt experimented with ideas as to how he could continue to contribute to cancer research. He visualized a number of teams taking part in a 24-hour fundraising event, thus creating the organization, Relay for Life. Now, 29 years later, the establishment has raised over $6.8 billion in order to save lives from cancer, and involves more than 25,000 people across the country, including Lakeland Regional High School Community.
Lakeland Regional High School’s Service Club is hosting a Relay For Life on June 1, 2024 on the football field and track. Participants will take part in a number of activities from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and all are welcome to attend. More details can be found on LRHS’ official Relay for Life website.
According to Ms. Brenda Ferguson, Service Club advisor and science teacher at LRHS, “Nearly everyone has been touched by cancer in one way or another. Relay for Life is the signature fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. ACS is a highly respected charity whose mission is to support those battling cancer and their families.”
Relay for Life affects the lives of millions. Raising money for the American Cancer Society not only makes contributors an advocate to bring awareness to the cause, but also allows for the American Cancer Society to offer recognition, research, and patient support to significantly better the lives of cancer patients and their loved ones.
There are a number of ways to promote the objectives of cancer awareness and be involved in LRHS’ Relay for Life. The easiest ways to bring attention to Relay for Life is to ask friends or family to donate to the organization, alongside posting fundraisers on social media relating to the cause.
However, if contributors would like to gather donations in groups, they can become part of a team. On top of raising money and awareness on the American Cancer Society Relay for Life official website, Ms. Ferguson shares, “Teams can organize to raise money before and during the event by doing things like lemonade sales during sporting events, canning in the stands, face painting stations at the event, musical serenades, candygrams, etc. Participants and teams can also seek sponsorships from local businesses and organizations.”
Relay for Life is also an event where participants pay tribute to those they have lost to cancer. A variety of activities are offered at the Relay, including a “luminaria” event. A luminaria, or “floating lantern,” can be dedicated to a lost loved one, someone currently battling cancer, or anyone who has defeated the disease. Ms. Ferguson explained, “The luminaria will be lit during the remembrance ceremony as the sun sets on the event.”
Currently, LRHS’ Relay for Life donations have come from a wide variety of Lakeland clubs and organizations, including Lakeland Service Club, National Honors Society, FBLA, Business Honors Society, Unified Club, and D.E.M. Club, with donations coming in at over $2,000. With the event almost two weeks again, anyone can donate here.
There are also a number of different charities, as Ms. Ferguson shared, that also benefits cancer awareness and research, such as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and Alex’s Lemonade Stand. Monetary donations are not the only thing someone can do, anyone can stand by cancer patients, survivors, and their families by donating cards and encouraging affirmations to cancer patients located at research centers, such as St. Jude’s Research Hospital and Girls Love Mail.
