International Relay For Life

Relay For Life Unifies Communities

In South Africa, Relay For Life has helped unify communities in a post-apartheid world.  Volunteers of many races and different backgrounds come together at Relay events to fight a common enemy: cancer.  

Relay has demonstrated that despite natural disasters such as in Japan, New Zealand, Australia, and in the United States, communities heal through coming together for a common purpose no matter what the circumstance.  

Through Relay For Life, communities begin to understand that cancer touches everybody and everyone has a role in supporting each of these countries.

Relay For Life Provides a Chance to Fight Back 

Relay For Life provides an opportunity for the average person to impact the future of cancer.  In Relays around the world, cancer survivors are honoured through a special survivor celebration before each event. 

Relay For Life gives a chance for those who have lost a loved one to remember their friends and family, in a safe environment, by participating in the overnight Luminaria ceremony. 

At the conclusion of each Relay For Life, participants commit to continuing the fight back against cancer in their own way.  Volunteers in South Africa recently urged their male participants to consider necessary prostate testing through the distribution of a take-home reminder kit at their event, while volunteers in the United Kingdom educated their participants on sun safety.

Relay For Life Raises Funds for your Cancer Organization

Relay For Life is the largest cancer fundraiser in the world, raising over $4 Billion USD ($2.8 Billion EUR).  Countries around the world are feeling the impact of raising funds through Relay For Life.  Luxembourg raised almost $300,000 in 2010, to support their cancer organization's mission, while the Canadian Cancer Society raised over $52,000,000 in their local communities.  Relay For Life provides an opportunity to raise money within the context of community outreach.  In Honduras and Guatemala, Relay For Life has become the one place where the community gathers to remember those lost to cancer, and despite the huge economic challenges, people find creative ways to raise money that supports their cancer organization in its life saving work.

To learn more about how your country can become involved in Global Relay For Life, email Iris.Pendergast@cancer.org.
 

 Our International Partners