American Cancer Society Relay for Life started when one person wanted to make a difference.
It started in Tacoma, Washington in May of 1985 when Dr. Gordon “Gordy” Klatt walked and ran for 24 hours around a track to raise money to help the American Cancer Society with the nation’s biggest health concern: cancer.
Raising Money For Cancer Awareness In Santa Clarita
Many of his friends, family, and patients watched and supported him. He walked and ran more than 83.6 miles and raised $27,000 through pledges to help save lives from cancer.
While circling the track, Gordy was thinking of how he can get many others to take part. His idea was to have teams participate in a 24-hour fundraising event.
At the historical Stadium Bowl the next year, 19 teams were part of the first Relay For Life event and raised $33,000.
On August 3, 2014, at the age of 71, Gordy passed away from heart failure after previously battling stomach cancer.
Though he now lives in peace, his legacy lives on from his idea of walking and running a track and help turned it into a global fundraising phenomenon.
The American Cancer Society has become a global phenomenon with cancer organizations in 29 countries, on six continents who implement Relay For Life Events.
In 2019, the global relay partners have raised a total of $51 Million Dollars with 28 thousand teams, 484 thousand participants, and 43 thousand survivors.
However, this year due to Covid-19 and the change in many events has donations declining and the mission for Relay For Life at risk.
The research and patient programs supporting through relay are threatened. This is why it is urgently important to get involved in Relay For Life and fundraise… it helps save lives.
Click here to see an alphabetical list of 2022 Home and Garden Show Exhibitors
There are many ways to get involved in Relay For Life and they are very easy.
All you do is pick your event and sign up, whether it is being a team captain or being a participant.
Being a team captain means making a huge difference by recruiting members, organizing fundraising goals, and supporting your team.
When you participate, you can join an existing team, or start your own team.
If you are a survivor or caregiver, you can connect with other survivors and caregivers, inspire someone newly diagnosed, lend an ear to someone with a similar situation, and be part of a community where cancer is faced together, not individually.
You can also volunteer or be a sponsor at events to be part of this global phenomenon.
Lastly, you can make donations. If these are positions you want to do and be part of, you can join the Relay For Life of Santa Clarita.
To learn more about the American Cancer Society, click here.
We hope you can join us at the 2022 KHTS Home and Garden Show at Central Park on April 30th and May 1st 2022 at one of the largest California Home Shows and Home and Garden Shows right here in Santa Clarita!
