People have been relaying since 1985.
In Bermuda, our first event was held in 2014.
The idea for Relay For Life Bermuda began in 2008, when Ron Spencer met with Deborah Titterton Narraway, then Marketing Manager at Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre, to discuss a potential “little fundraiser.” While the concept was intriguing, how to begin remained uncertain. A few months later, Ron returned with a contact from the American Cancer Society, and the conversation gained momentum. Deborah, having introduced other impactful initiatives such as St. Baldrick’s and MOvember, recognised that Relay For Life was an entirely new scale of effort. With the Board’s approval, planning commenced for the inaugural event, which debuted in 2014.
The money raised:
From 2014 to 2017, Relay For Life Bermuda raised an impressive $3 million, becoming the largest donor to Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre’s $10 million Radiation Therapy Initiative.
Today, Relay For Life Bermuda is Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre’s largest annual donor, contributing over $2.2 million to the Equal Access Fund. These funds ensure that everyone in Bermuda has access to life-saving early detection and radiation therapy services, without co-pay, regardless of 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.
