History – How It Began
One man. One track. One Goal. In 1985 an American Cancer Society volunteer, Dr Gordy Klatt, put on his jogging shoes and headed for his local track after a good friend died from cancer. Twenty four hours and 81 miles (135km) later, Dr Klatt had raised an amazing $27,000 in sponsored donations for the American Cancer Society.
Since then Relay For Life has developed into the world's biggest Fundraising event, and from its humble beginnings is now held in over 4,500 locations in 21 countries including Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, England, Germany, India, Ireland, Jamaica, Malaysia, Netherlands, Philippines, Scotland, Slovenia, South Africa and Taiwan.
Relay For Life events in the United States have raised over $US 2 billion for cancer research.
The inaugural Relay For Life in New Zealand was piloted by the Manawatu Division in 1991 at the Palmerston North College of Education with 86 teams raising more than $150,000. Since then Relay has becomne a national event in 15 different cities around New Zealand throughout February and March.