Mission:
To embody the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that one day cancer will be eliminated.

Background:
The brainchild of Dr. Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon who wanted to boost the income of the local American Cancer Society affiliate, the first ACS Relay For Life took place in 1986 in Tacoma, Washington. Today, relay teams of approximately 3.5 million people gather at schools, fairgrounds, and parks nationwide to take turns walking or running laps for the annual overnight event. Their goal: to increase awareness of cancer in the community and celebrate survivorship while raising much-needed funds to fight the disease. Each relay officially begins with a survivors lap. They are followed by teams of friends, neighbors, families, and co-workers, one of whom must be on the track and walking at all times to reinforce the idea that cancer never sleeps. Forty-nine hundred Relay For Life events are planned in 2008 — most of them in April, May, and June.

Outstanding Web Features:
The Relay For Life Web site provides information about the American Cancer Society's signature activity, starting with how to create a local or corporate team. Resources on the site include a database of local ACS offices; guidelines for every aspect of the event, from team development to fundraising; toolkits for committee chairs and team captains; e-cards that can be used to invite friends or associates to join a team; and an FAQ. The site also includes videos and active message boards, including private ones for individual relay groups. There's even a cyber-training room with modules designed to help individuals develop various aspects of their relay teams. For those who prefer to participate in others ways, the site also includes information on how to volunteer, donate, or be an advocate.