HOW RELAY CAME TO BE

Relay for Life began in 1965 in Tacoma. Wash. Dr. Gordon “Gordy” Klatt, a colorectal surgeon, wanted to help his local American Cancer Society raise extra funds and show support for his patients. Being a marathon runner, he decided to run for 24 hours Dr. Klatt spent the day and might circling the track at Baker Stadium at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, running more than 83 miles. Nearly 300 of his friends and patients showed up to watch him and donations of $25 were made to run or walk with Dr. Klatt for 3D minutes. That year, his efforts raised $27,000 to help fight cancer.

Over the next few months, the surgeon pulled together a small committee to plan the first team relay event known BB the City of Destiny Classic 24-Hour Run Against Cancer. In 1986,19 teams took part in the first team Relay for Life event held on the track at the historic Stadium Bowl. raising $38,000.

Although Dr. Klatt passed away in August 2014 after battling stomach chancer, his vision of Relay has grown into a nationwide event producing almost $5 billion in fundraising to date.