How did Relay for Life Begin?

In May 1985, Dr. Gordy Klatt took the first step of his 24-hour walk/jog/run around a Tacoma, Washington track and raised $27,000 to support the American Cancer Society. The following year, 220 supporters on 19 teams joined Dr. Klatt in this overnight event and the American Cancer Society Relay For Life was born.

In subsequent years, Dr. Klatt and Pat Flynn (the father and mother of Relay) spent their time traveling the country training American Cancer Society volunteers and staff on how to create a Relay For Life in their community. It was evident early on, that Relay For Life was unlike any other fund-raising event the Society had ever offered. The passion, dedication, long-term commitment of Relay committee members and teams led to a phenomenal growth of Relays across the nation.

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life has come a long way since its inception 16 years ago - from one man, Dr. Gordy Klatt, to more than 2, 800 events in the United States and 57 events across the globe in 2000.

Thousands of dedicated and hardworking people have given their best to the American Cancer Society to help Relay For Life grow. Who would have believed in the early years that Relay For Life would develop from an event, to an activity, to a worldwide movement to end cancer...or that Gordy Klatt's first $27,000 in 1985 would grow to $169 million in the United States in 1999-2000 alone!