Relay For Life
| Formation | May 1985 |
|---|---|
| Type | Fundraising event for the American Cancer Society |
Region served | 35 Countries Around the World |
Staff Lead | Bryan Sherwood |
Volunteer Lead | Becky VanLoon |
Parent organization | American Cancer Society |
| Revenue | US$66 million (Relay For Life fundraising, 2024) |
| Website | http://relayforlife.org/ |
Relay For Life is a community-based walkathon and the largest fundraising event of the American Cancer Society (ACS). Teams of people, varying in size, alternate between walking laps and interacting with other aspects of the fundraiser. Each year, more than 5,000 Relay For Life events are held in local communities, university campuses, and as virtual campaigns over twenty countries. As the American Cancer Society's signature event, the mission of Relay For Life is to raise funds to improve cancer survival, decrease the incidence of cancer, and improve the quality of life for cancer patients and their caretakers.
A Relay For Life event is organized under a volunteer Relay Committee and implemented by volunteers. It is often organized as a multi-day public gathering, spanning all day and night in a large outdoor space, and many people bring tents and camp out around the walking tracks.
According to the Relay for Life 2024 Impact Report, 165,000 participants in the US raised $68 million dollars. Since 1985, $6.9 Billion dollars has been raised from Relay For Life events.