A look back on Relay for Life
The 21st Annual Relay for Life event, held in East Park in Norwich. This year marks the 25th and final year of the walk-a-thon event. (Sun Archive Photo)
NORWICH — Relay for Life has been a staple in the Norwich community for 25 years, returning every year to raise money to fight cancer.
Unfortunately, due to a decline in participation and COVID struggles, the Chenango County Relay for Life will be holding its final event on Saturday, July 17.
"The American Cancer Society (ACS) is kind of taking a turn in what the Rely for Life looks like on a national level too," said committee member Marie Loughren. "Because I think the events nationwide have changed. The groups don't necessarily want to spend the 24 hours overnight, walking all night. They don't have that participation nationwide, not just here. Even other local ones to us, they've gone in different directions."
Relay for Life began as a 24-hour non-stop walk. In May of 1985, in Tacoma, Washington, a man named Gordon "Gordy" Klatt both walked and ran around a track for 24 straight hours. His motive was to raise money to donate to the ACS for their fight against cancer.
According to the ACS Relay for Life website, Klatt walked and ran over 83.6 miles, and raised $27,000. The following year, 19 teams signed up for the walk-a-thon, and Relay for Life was born. The group raised $33,000 that year.
Norwich already had a foundation in cancer fundraising with the Making Strides event, which was a 5K walk, run, bike event, according to former ACS Staff Partner Nance Rifanburg, so it was easy to transition the event to Relay for Life.
“I believe there were two years of Making Strides at Weiler Park in Norwich. Relay started in the state of Washington. The first east coast event was in Binghamton. I had gone with some others out to Washington to see how it was done. It was a natural fit to start a Relay where there was already a base from Strides, and it was in my hometown," said Rifanburg. "In 1997, there were only three Relay events in New York – Binghamton, Watertown, and Norwich. We were very much the test market to see if it would work in a rural market. Obviously, it worked!”
Since 1997, the Relay for Life in Norwich has held several fundraisers, including the annual walk-a-thons, Luminaria ceremonies, survivor dinners, and raised over one million dollars.
"Chenango County has raised well over a million dollars in the 25 years," said Event Chairman Lynne Robertson. "So for that little tiny county I think is amazing."
In past years, the Relay for Life in Norwich assigned themes to the events, including a Wizard of Oz theme in 2018. One year, a participant wrapped himself in toilet paper before departing for his laps, according to Robertson.
"We had themed laps where you had to like you know road to recovery make some kind of something like you were on the road driving around, road to recovery," said committee member Lesa Babcock. "On our 20th anniversary, wear a shirt ten years old or your favorite relay shirt from past."
Loughren said a large amount of the annual event would cater to the themes, including the entertainment, games, and contests.
"We had a theme every year and then everything that we really did at the event kind of tailored to that theme too, whether it was the laps, the entertainment, we’d bring in different things," said Loughren. "We had board games one year and we had like inflatable twister. The teams would have to decorate their campsite to that theme and they’d get judged on it, and get prizes."
This year, Robertson plans to honor these traditions with themed laps.
"I will probably do some themed laps at the event," she said. "I think there's little unique things that everybody might have done."
Reflection will also play a big role in this year's relay with a nostalgic open mic session, according to Robertson.
"We've asked them to share any memories or stuff at the event, we're gonna have like an open mic type thing," said Robertson. "Think of a year that you really enjoyed, a theme or something, and kind of share that with us."
The final Relay for Life event will take place in East Park in Norwich, on Saturday, July 17. Due to COVID concerns, it is only open to participants, survivors, and invited guests.
For more information on Relay for Life, to sign up, or to donate, visit acsevents.org. For more information on the Chenango County Relay for Life, visit their Facebook page, Relay for Life of Chenango County.
Unfortunately, due to a decline in participation and COVID struggles, the Chenango County Relay for Life will be holding its final event on Saturday, July 17.
"The American Cancer Society (ACS) is kind of taking a turn in what the Rely for Life looks like on a national level too," said committee member Marie Loughren. "Because I think the events nationwide have changed. The groups don't necessarily want to spend the 24 hours overnight, walking all night. They don't have that participation nationwide, not just here. Even other local ones to us, they've gone in different directions."
Relay for Life began as a 24-hour non-stop walk. In May of 1985, in Tacoma, Washington, a man named Gordon "Gordy" Klatt both walked and ran around a track for 24 straight hours. His motive was to raise money to donate to the ACS for their fight against cancer.
According to the ACS Relay for Life website, Klatt walked and ran over 83.6 miles, and raised $27,000. The following year, 19 teams signed up for the walk-a-thon, and Relay for Life was born. The group raised $33,000 that year.
Norwich already had a foundation in cancer fundraising with the Making Strides event, which was a 5K walk, run, bike event, according to former ACS Staff Partner Nance Rifanburg, so it was easy to transition the event to Relay for Life.
“I believe there were two years of Making Strides at Weiler Park in Norwich. Relay started in the state of Washington. The first east coast event was in Binghamton. I had gone with some others out to Washington to see how it was done. It was a natural fit to start a Relay where there was already a base from Strides, and it was in my hometown," said Rifanburg. "In 1997, there were only three Relay events in New York – Binghamton, Watertown, and Norwich. We were very much the test market to see if it would work in a rural market. Obviously, it worked!”
Since 1997, the Relay for Life in Norwich has held several fundraisers, including the annual walk-a-thons, Luminaria ceremonies, survivor dinners, and raised over one million dollars.
"Chenango County has raised well over a million dollars in the 25 years," said Event Chairman Lynne Robertson. "So for that little tiny county I think is amazing."
In past years, the Relay for Life in Norwich assigned themes to the events, including a Wizard of Oz theme in 2018. One year, a participant wrapped himself in toilet paper before departing for his laps, according to Robertson.
"We had themed laps where you had to like you know road to recovery make some kind of something like you were on the road driving around, road to recovery," said committee member Lesa Babcock. "On our 20th anniversary, wear a shirt ten years old or your favorite relay shirt from past."
Loughren said a large amount of the annual event would cater to the themes, including the entertainment, games, and contests.
"We had a theme every year and then everything that we really did at the event kind of tailored to that theme too, whether it was the laps, the entertainment, we’d bring in different things," said Loughren. "We had board games one year and we had like inflatable twister. The teams would have to decorate their campsite to that theme and they’d get judged on it, and get prizes."
This year, Robertson plans to honor these traditions with themed laps.
"I will probably do some themed laps at the event," she said. "I think there's little unique things that everybody might have done."
Reflection will also play a big role in this year's relay with a nostalgic open mic session, according to Robertson.
"We've asked them to share any memories or stuff at the event, we're gonna have like an open mic type thing," said Robertson. "Think of a year that you really enjoyed, a theme or something, and kind of share that with us."
The final Relay for Life event will take place in East Park in Norwich, on Saturday, July 17. Due to COVID concerns, it is only open to participants, survivors, and invited guests.
For more information on Relay for Life, to sign up, or to donate, visit acsevents.org. For more information on the Chenango County Relay for Life, visit their Facebook page, Relay for Life of Chenango County.
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