Everyone has been affected by cancer. Relay For Life wants to change that.
Relay For Life started in Tacoma, Wash. in 1985 when Dr. Gordy Klatt decided to spend 24 hours walking around a track to raise money for cancer research. He raised $27,000. Since then, Relay For Life has become a national—and global—movement, reaching 5,200 communities in the United States and 21 countries.
On June 21 and 22, New Trier’s Northfield campus will host Relay For Life of Wilmette/Winnetka. Teams can register online and begin fundraising today. Money raised will benefit the American Cancer Society.
“Ultimately, it goes to funding our research that we do all across the country,” says Relay For Life Specialist Karina Ogawa. “It also goes to fund our free services and programs we have for cancer patients and their families.”
Relay For Life is not a run or a race. It’s an experience, Karina says, that allows community members to join together in the fight against cancer. Ideally, teams will have at least one member walking around the track for the entire 12-hour event, but that’s not mandatory.
Relay For Life of Wilmette/Winnetka, like all Relay events, revolves around three central themes: Celebrate, Remember and Fight Back.
“The main point of Relay, which I really love, is the celebrating part,” Karina says. “We are there to honor survivors and to celebrate with them their journey that they’ve gone through and their battle that they’ve won or that they’re going through, and just celebrating the fact that they’re still here with us.”
After the sun goes down, participants will take a moment to remember those who’ve lost their battle with cancer. During this Luminaria Ceremony, lanterns dedicated to loved ones will line the track.
Finally, participants will be encouraged to fight back by pledging to eat healthier, quit smoking, or make any change that they feel is right for them.
“Relay is a roller coaster of emotion […] It’s so much fun to stay outside all day and hang out with your friends, and it’s something that brings the community together. But that remembrance ceremony really hits home [as to] why we’re doing this, why we’re fundraising all year long.”
Relay For Life By the Numbers:
- Relay For Life events can last anywhere from 12 to 24 hours.
- Relay For Life of Wilmette/Winnetka has around 300 participants and 20 committee members.
- Last year, Relay For Life of Wilmette/Winnetka raised nearly $40,000. Since 2002, the event has raised more than $1.8 million.
- More than 100 North Shore cancer survivors were celebrated in 2013.
- With money raised last year, Relay For Life’s North Shore region was able to provide more than 40,000 nights at the Hope Lodge, where patients and families can stay for free during treatment.
If you’re interested in joining the Relay For Life of Wilmette/Winnetka committee, email Karina Ogawa at karina.ogawa@cancer.org, or call 847-317-0025.
Make It Better is a proud media sponsor of this event.
