People have been relaying since 1985.
In Bermuda, our first event was held in 2014.
In 2008, Ron Spencer arrived at Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre and met with Deborah Titterton Narraway, marketing manager to discuss a potential 'little fundraiser'. The idea sounded good, but how does one get started. A few months later he came back with a contact at the American Cancer Society and discussion began. Deborah had introduced new events to the Centre before (St. Baldrick's and MOvember) but this was on a different scale. Eventually with Board approval, planning began for the 2014 inagural event.
The money raised:
2014 - 2017 you raised $3M Making Relay For Life the largest donor supporting $10 million Radiation Therapy Initiative.
Since then the funds raised make Relay For Life the largest annual donor to Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre's Equal Access Fund, helping to subsidise $2.2M+ in service fees, so everyone has access to life-saving early detection and radiation therapy, without co-pay & regardless of your health insurance status.
Relay For Life began in the USA in May 1985 when colorectal surgeon, Dr. Gordy Klatt, wanted to raise awareness of cancer and boost the income of his local cancer charity. He spent a grueling twenty-four hours circulating a track in Tacoma, Washington, and raised over $27,000, and showed that one person really can make a difference.
Since then, Relay For Life has become the largest fundraising event for cancer in the world. Celebrated by more than 4 million people in over 20 countries, this inspirational overnight event empowers and unites local communities to fight cancer.
Bermuda resident, Ron Spencer III lost his mother to cancer in 2008. This brought Ron to Deborah Titterton Narraway at Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre. In 2013 Bermuda became the 23rd country approved as a Global Relay Partner and in May 2014, we celebrated our first Relay For Life event where over 2,500 members of our community came together and raised over $450,000! Since that first year, the event has raised over $2.3 million partially funding the new radiation therapy unit and now support providing equal access to Centre services.
Gordon “Gordy” Klatt, passed away August 3, 2014, at the age of 71 from heart failure after battling stomach cancer.
