Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society's signature event. Teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Relays are an overnight event up to 24 hours long. Each team is asked to have at least one team member on the track at all times during the event. The event allows anyone from a community to join in the fight against cancer. It is a fund-raising and awareness-raising event. But for many people, Relay for Life is a life-changing event.

Relay for Life brings together over 3.5 million participating in 4,800 events. Participants celebrate the lives of those who have survived cancer whose strength inspires others to battle the disease. They remember loved ones they have lost to the disease and they find solace and healing in walking and talking to others who share their loss. People participate because they want to fight back against cancer and they want to help find cures that will stop the disease. Relay for Life represents hope that those lost to cancer will not be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported and that one day cancer will be eliminated.

The story of Relay for Life demonstrates that one person can make a great difference. The story began in Tacoma, Washington, in the mid-1980s when a colorectal surgeon named Gordy Platt decided he would combine his love of running with his desire to support his patients who had battled cancer by raising money for the local chapter of the American Cancer Society. Dr. Klatt ran more than 83 miles in 24 hours. People donated $25 each to run 30 minutes with him. That day he raised over $27,000. While he was running, he thought of ways that others could be included in his effort to fight cancer. He envisioned a 24-hour team relay event. In 1986, together with Pat Flynn, the first Relay for Life was organized. Nineteen teams participated and raised over $33,000. More importantly a spirit was created that has lead to the creation of events all over the country that involve over 3.5 million people.

One in three Americans will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes. The funds raised are used for cancer research, early detection, prevention, education, advocacy and support. But Relay for Life is not just a fundraiser. It brings together communities of people unified for a common purpose. It is a moving celebration of cancer survivorship. Each Relay event begins with a Survivors Lap in which cancer survivors take a &quto;victory" lap. Later in the night luminarias are lit in memory of loved ones lost to cancer to line and light the track throughout the night.

Taos' Relay for Life will take place Saturday, August 9 in Kit Carson Park. Although teams are already formed, fundraising continues until the day of the event. July 24, Team Centinel Bank will have a Frito Pie Sale at the Taos Plaza Live event on the plaza from 6 to 8 p.m., Team Las Guapas Walkers will have a yard sale and bake sale daily Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, July 25-27, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 409 Camino de la Placita, just north of the firehouse, and Team Esperanza Cancer Support Group will have a yard sale on Saturday, July 26, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 318 Cruz Alta Road just east of Gusdorf Road. We ask that you support these and all Taos Relay for Life activities!

Reference: http://www.relayforlife.org/relay/about.

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