Relay For Life began in 1985 when Dr. Gordon Klatt, a Tacoma, Washington surgeon and an American Cancer Society volunteer, ran and walked for 24 hours to raise money for the ACS. He traveled a total of 81 miles and raised $27,000 for the fight against cancer.

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.

The American Cancer Society adopted Relay For Life as their Signature Event in 1994. In the last 20 years, the Relay for Life has spread to over 4,000 communities in the United States. Nearly 3 million participants raised $246 million to fund the American Cancer Society's mission in 2004.

It was projected that during 2004, the cumulative total raised by Relay For Life will exceed $1 billion, to invest in cancer research, advocacy, education and patient service programs. (Where do donations go?)

Locally, the Relay For Life of Cheshire has broken records for funds raised and the number of participants for our local Community.

Here is an overview of the past 12 years.

2008        $ 411,475

2007        $ 476,644

2006        $ 579,873

2005        $ 532,287

2004        $ 506,898

2003        $ 493,937

2002        $ 546,000

2001        $ 526,000

2000        $ 532,000

1999        $ 506,000

1998        $ 380,000

1997        $ 158,000

Total:   $ 5,649,114

For 2005

Ranked #2 in Connecticut

Several thousand cancer survivors, their families, and friends come to a special luminary candle lighting service designed to honor and remember people who have been struck by cancer.  Thousands of luminary bags line the Cheshire High School track, guiding the walkers/runners through the night.

Relay For Life Facts Nationwide:

• Relay For Life raised $246 million in 2002.  

• The national average income for the 2,974 Relays is $71,957. 

• The Region 2 average is $111,765 - well above the national average.

• The National per capita average for Relay For Life is $0.79. 

• The New England Division per capita average is $0.84. 

• CT Region 2's average is $0.96.

• The New England Division raised $17 million 2004.

• 118 Research Grants totaling $52 million in New England Division 2004.

• Cheshire Relay For Life continues to raise over 1/2 million dollars / year.

• Cheshire's per capita Average is $17.63 for 2005

• Cheshire is in the Top 5 Nationwide for per capita!

• Cheshire in the "Top Thirty" in the Nation for funds raised 2005!

Relay Contributions at Work:

The money raised has played a key role in ACS accomplishments such as:

• Awarding more than $2.5 billion in grants for promising cancer research since 1946.

• Funding 32 Nobel Prize-winning researchers

• Investing in studies that led to discoveries like the Pap test, bone marrow transplants, Tamoxifen, and Gleevec.

• Supplying valuable resources to anyone, anytime, through a toll-free information line, 1-800-ACS-2345, and Web site www.cancer.org.

• Working with legislators to make sure that cancer issues are addressed in a timely manner with the attention and funding they need.

• Campaigning for important legislative victories like the Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act and expanded Medicare benefits for cancer screenings.

• Offering patients support and a network of other cancer survivors in their communities through programs like 'Man to Man' and 'Reach to Recovery'.

• Providing tools and programs, such as Look Good...Feel Better, for patients and survivors dealing with the physical effects of the disease.