Rewind to May of 1985 in Tucoma, Washington. Meet Dr. Gordon Klatt, a colorectal specialist and running enthusiast with a desire to change something. Moderately involved in his local American Cancer Society, Dr. Klatt sought a way to bring more community awareness to the society and give them a way to get more involved.He started by running and walking the track at Baker Stadium for 24 hours which totaled 83 miles (that would be slightly more than running a marathon 3 times). While he circled the track, friends and family could donate $25 to go along with him. Within the course of that year, he raised $27,000, got over 300 friends, family members, and cancer patients involved, and got the ball rolling for what would soon be Relay for Life.
Fast forward 30 years and Relay for Life is now the largest non-profit cancer fundraising group in the world. Relay takes place in many communities throughout the United States and has also started to have a number of events in other countries including South Africa, Japan, Ireland, and Australia. It has become a huge community movement that ties families, students, survivors, doctors, and so many more together. But in addition to all the fun, Relay for Life is about so much more. The money raised goes out to many organizations and research opportunities and is used to create a cancer free future.
This year, the Relay for Life Blog at UVA will be having weekly Mission Monday posts. Each highlight a different aspect of what the money earned through Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society goes to. Just a little sneak peek, you will learn more about the Hope Lodge which hosts families and patients currently undergoing treatments. Or Road to Recovery which provides rides to and from treatments for patients. Or Look Good...Feel Better which is all about providing women with opportunities to pick up on little beauty tips - from scarves to wigs - to make chemotherapy more fun.Or about all of the amazing research going on across the world - from top labs in Europe to break through discoveries that have been happening here in our backyard at the UVA Medical School. So starting next Monday, but ready to learn just way Relay is so amazing (in addition to the wonderful people of course).
With Relay Love,
Maria
