The Global Relay for Life movement started because of one person.
In May 1985, Dr. Gordon “Gordy” Klatt walked and ran for 24 hours around a track in Tacoma, Washington, raising money to help the American Cancer Society raise some money for cancer research.
Friends, family, and patients watched and supported him as he walked and ran more than 83.6 miles, and raised $27,000 through pledges to help save lives from cancer. As he ran, a plan began to form in his brain: would other people want to run to raise money?
The next year, 19 teams were a part of the first Relay for Life event, which raised $33,000.
LOCALLY CELEBRATING 25 YEARS
The Gallup-McKinley Chapter hasn’t been around as long as the global level, but they are nonetheless preparing to celebrate their 25th year as an organization at the Relay for Life event on June 14.
To honor the 25th anniversary, or the “silver anniversary,” this year’s Relay theme is “The Silver Relay: What Will You Do to Sparkle and Shine Against Cancer?”
To kickoff the silver anniversary, some of the participating relay teams took on a “25 Days Before Relay” challenge. Members had to post something to celebrate Relay each day for the 25 days leading up to the event. Gallup-McKinley Chapter Coordinator Joyce Graves said some of the postings encouraged people to eat a healthy meal and post a recipe on Facebook; on another day they had to wear cowboy boots to “kick cancer in the butt;” and then they honored another day by making cards and writing letters to cancer survivors and caretakers.
Some teams have also started selling pink socks. They cost $5 a pair, and they will also be sold at the Relay event.
Of course, there will also be some new and exciting things at the Relay itself.
Graves said they’re bringing back Mr. Relay, an event where men dress up in women’s clothing and walk around the track during the Relay trying to get people to donate money. Whoever collects the most money wins the competition. Graves said any man who wants to join in on the fun can do so that day.
“Anybody else who wants to join in on the fun can come on down and dress up,” she said.
Greg Kirk, a local physical therapist, said he’s looking forward to participating in Mr. Relay.
“It’ll get me out of my comfort zone, but it’s for a great cause,” he said.
Another new event preceding the Relay saw the Gallup McKinley Relay for Life Chapter partner with Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe for their Friday Night Rides Cars and Coffee event on June 7. The organization encouraged people to come out and make their own boxcars to then compete in a race.
People will also get to race their boxcars during the Relay for Life event.
One thing that Graves hopes will really showcase all the work the Gallup McKinley Chapter has done in the past 25 years is a fashion show that will present the T-shirts from past Relay for Life events.
WHY SHE DOES WHAT SHE DOES
Graves has been involved in Relay for Life for the entire 25 years it’s been in Gallup.
It’s a very personal matter for her. She’s seen the positive effects the money raised from Relay for Life can have on people who are fighting cancer.
When her husband was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, doctors were able to give him a new cancer drug. Graves said the money raised from Relay for Life helped fund the research that went into the drug.
“They developed a new drug called Gleevec, and that drug saved his life because the chemo drug attacked only the leukemia cells,” Graves explained. “It didn’t attack the whole body like chemo does. So he basically had no side effects. This is why we relay, because it is saving lives. The money we raise goes toward research, and the research can save lives.”
Graves has also benefited from the research Relay for Life has helped fund. She’s been diagnosed with breast cancer twice. Luckily each time was a different diagnosis, the cancer never metastasized.
“The second [time I had breast cancer it] was so much easier, so they make improvements all the time,” she said.
Besides their individual breast cancer and leukemia diagnosis, Graves and her husband have also both had skin cancer.
MORE INFORMATION
Gallup’s Relay for Life event will kick off at 5 pm on June 14. That’s when survivors will be invited to sign in. The survivor’s lap will take place from 6 pm to 7 pm.
Events will continue well into the night, with the closing ceremony starting at 12:30 am on June 15.
For more information about the event and to register for it, visit https://secure.acsevents.org/site/STR?pg=informational&fr_id=107767&sid=214742&name=event-details.
By Molly Ann Howell
Managing Editor
