Relay For Life key messages and FAQs
A resource for Cancer Society Relay For Life volunteers and staff
Key messages
- Relay For Life is an inspiring, overnight team event for people of all ages and fitness levels.
- Relay For Life is one of the Cancer Society’s key community engagement and fundraising activities. RelayFor Life is held in over 20 communities across New Zealand.
- Relay For Life is a time to:
Celebrate cancer survivors and carers
Remember loved ones lost to cancer
Fight back by raising awareness and funds to support the work of the Cancer Society.
- Anyone can take part in Relay For Life. It’s a family-friendly event and teams come from all parts of the community.
- Relay For Life teams and supporters are part of a global movement, empowering communities to take a stand against cancer. Held worldwide, Relay For Life unites over four million people in 6000+ global communities every year.
- Relay For Life is more than a fundraiser. It enables individuals and communities to:
- honour cancer survivors and carers
- remember the people we've lost to cancer
- learn about finding cancer early
- learnabout ways to reduce the risk of cancer.
FAQs
What is Relay For Life?
Relay For Life is an inspiring community event that gives everyone a chance to celebrate cancer survivors and caregivers; remember loved ones lost to cancer; and fight back by raising awareness and funds to support the work of the Cancer Society.
Experience Relay For Life through our video on
How many New Zealanders take part in Relay For Life?
In 2014, over 25,000 team members, survivors, carers and volunteers from 20 communities took part in RelayFor Life.
People of all ages and backgrounds take part in Relay For Life each year.Teams of 10-15 people come from local businesses, clubs, families/whānau, friends, hospitals, marae, schools and service organisations.
What happens at Relay For Life?
Relay For Life begins with a moving Opening Ceremony, whencancer survivors and carers lead the first lap of the event. Next, team members take to the track. Most walk for 30-minute intervals, while some prefer to jog or run. When they’re not on the track, people enjoy a festive, family-friendly environment with activities and entertainment.
Later in the evening, a Candlelight Ceremony is held. This is a time to remember loved ones affected by cancer. People taking part light candles inside personally-decorated candle bags, which are placed around the Relay track as glowing tributes to family and friends.
Team members carry on walking/jogging through the night. This represents the fact that cancer never sleeps. At least one member of the team is on the track at all times. In the morning, teams come together for an inspiring Closing Ceremony. This is a time to acknowledge and thank community members for their support and commitment.
How much money does Relay For Life raise?
In 2014, RelayFor Life teamsand supporters raised three million dollars to support the work of the Cancer Society. The Cancer Society does not receive any direct government funding andis totally reliant on the goodwill and generosity of the public to help the one in three New Zealanders affected by cancer.
Why is Relay For Life held overnight?
At RelayFor Life, teams walk and jog through the night, symbolising the fact that cancer never sleeps. At least one member of the team is on the track at all times. And when they’re not on the track, participants enjoy a festive, carnival-like environment with activities and entertainment.
How and where did Relay For Life begin?
Relay For Life began in 1985 in Tacoma, Washington through the vision and commitment of Dr Gordon Klatt, a colorectal (bowel) surgeon and American Cancer Society volunteer.
To raise awareness and funds for the American Cancer Society, Dr Klatt spent 24 hours circling the track at the University of Puget Sound. Nearly 300 of Dr Klatt’s friends, family and patients paid $25 to walk or run with him in 30-minute intervals. Together, they raised $27,000 for American Cancer Society.
As he circled the track, Dr Klatt thought about how other people could take part. Months later he and friend Pat Flynn organised a small volunteer committee to plan the first Relay event. In 1986, 19 teams took part, and an indescribable spirit filled the stadium as teams walked and ran through the night.
Today, there are over 6000 Relay events in communities across the globe.
Who organises Relay For Life events?
Relay For Life is a community-driven, volunteer-led activity. Across the country, hundreds of local volunteers work alongside Cancer Society staff to create Relay For Life experiences that reflect the community in which each event is held.
Through this gift of time and skills, volunteers help individuals and communities to:
- honour cancer survivors and carers
- remember the people we’ve lost to cancer
- learn about finding cancer early
- learnabout ways to reduce the risk of cancer.
When and where are Relay For Life events held?
Most Relay For Life events are held on weekends throughout the summer and early autumn months. However, as Relay For Life grows in popularity, we’re anticipating that new Relays will take place throughout the year.
While most Relays take place in local parks and reserves, some are held at universities, schools, jails, airports, workplaces, beaches and mountaintops. (In 2014, staff at New Zealand’s Scott Base held a Relay in Antarctica.)
How does Relay For Life make a difference in our community?
Relay For Life helps unify and connect the Cancer Society and the community.Relay supports our efforts to be a responsive and relevant organisation for all New Zealanders, both now and in the future.
Through RelayFor Life, Cancer Society volunteers and supporters come together to honour local cancer survivors and caregivers. They also raise awareness and funds, which enable the Cancer Society to provide the following:
Supportive Care Services
We offer a wide range of free and confidential support services for people with cancer and their family/whānau and carers.
Research
We are the largest non-government funder of cancer research in New Zealand.
Information
We are the country’s largest source of information about cancer. We offer information including booklets, leaflets, tapes, CDs, information sheets and videos.
Health Promotion
The health promotion team encourages New Zealanders to live a healthylifestyle. They do this through education, advocacy, developing policy and providing information on the following topics: tobacco control, skin cancer prevention, healthy eating and exercise, screening and early detection and men's health.
How many New Zealanders are affected by cancer?
Cancer affects one in three New Zealanders in their lifetime. Over 21,000 people develop cancer each year and nearly 9,000 die of cancer each year.
How can I take part in RelayForLIfe?
Please visit or contact your local Cancer Society office for details.
Relay For Life facts and figures
- In 2014, over 25,000 team members, survivors, carers and volunteers from 20 communities took part in Relay For Life and raised three million dollars.
- In 2014, over 4,000 cancer survivors and carers walked the first lap at Relay For Life events across the country.
- In summer/autumn 2015, 21 communities across New Zealand will hold a Relay For Life event.
- Relay For Life is a global movementthat engages over four million people in 6000+ communities across the world. In 2014, Relays will take place in the following countries:
- Australia, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, Denmark, France, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Luxembourg, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Portugal, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States and Zambia.