Relay For Life (RFL) is an American Cancer Society signature fundraiser in which volunteers give their time and effort to take action and fight back against cancer. Communities around the globe join together to celebrate cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost, and fight back. The money raised at RFL enables the American Cancer Society to make a global impact on cancer.
About the American Cancer Society
Since its beginning in 1985, Relay For Life has grown to include 27 countries, and over half a million participants annually, while fundraising more than $5 billion dollars for cancer research, advocacy, and patient programs throughout its lifespan.
No single non-governmental, not-for-profit organization in the US has invested more to find the causes and cures of cancer than the American Cancer Society. In fact, the American Cancer Society has helped make possible almost every major cancer research breakthrough since 1946.
As of March 1, 2018, the American Cancer Society has funded $405,504,880 in grants to research programs that encompass 45 different types of cancer.
How Do Grants Work?
Doctors use smaller amounts of money for base research. Based on their findings, they then submit applications for grant money. If awarded the grant, it’s estimated that each dollar used in the preliminary research phase can actually turn in to $12. Meaning, $1,000 of base funding could actually turn into $12,000 of grant money.
The Fight Back Ceremony at Relay For Life
Once a year, for 12 hours at a time, Rochester Institute of Technology holds their annual Relay For Life event from 7 pm – 7 am. This year, L-Tron team member Alexandra Myers not only participated at her alma mater’s event, but spoke and led the Fight Back Ceremony – and at 2 am no less. (Yikes!) Alex took the gymnasium stage to share her perspective on the importance of fighting back and some of the ways to do so. This year, the RIT Relay For Life event, run by collegiate Colleges Against Cancer members raised $86,007.46!
The Fight Back Ceremony is intended to inspire RFL participants to push through the long hours of the morning and really hone in on simple, yet fundamental ways that each and every one of us can fight back against cancer. One obvious way is monetary donations of any amount. Donations to the American Cancer Society go toward cancer research funding and a significant number of support programs. Some of these programs include the National Cancer Information Center, Hope Lodge/Patient Lodging Programs, Road to Recovery, Look Good Feel Better, and others.
Here are just a few ways you can take action:
- Donate to local or national Cancer advocacy organizations (Find Alex’s donation page here!).
- Volunteer for a collegiate or community Relay For Life.
- Cook dinner for patients staying at any number of the Patient Lodging Programs.
- Volunteer for Road to Recovery.
- Help in the planning of national ACS events like Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and Relay For Life.
- Join ACS CAN.
- Here are many other opportunities.
Regardless of how individuals choose to get involved, there are large or small contributions anyone can make. Fighting back against cancer can take on multiple forms and it’s different for everyone. Here at L-Tron, we’re lucky to have employees who care about the community and are actively involved in giving back.
For more stories about our employee and company community involvement check out these links:
- Women of Excellence Awards Dinner
- Gayle Nominated for Digital Rochester Technology Woman of the Year
- Gilda’s Guys Bachelor Auction 2018
- Juli Volunteers to Read to Kindergartners
- Badge of Honor Association Shop with a Cop
