Wanting to give something back to his patients 27 years ago, oncologist Gordon Gordy Klatt, MD, ran around a track for 24 hours and raised $16,000.
Why 24 hours? Because cancer never sleeps, he wasn’t about to either. So began Relay for Life, a fund-raising event for the American Cancer Society (ACS). Relay for Life is held all over the country. The East Mesa relay will change your life.
On April 20, Red Mountain High School will be the venue for the 12th annual East Mesa Relay for Life. For 11 of those years, Jeff Glenn has been a member of the committee presenting this extraordinary event. Jeff is known for his logistics expertise with the relay. In his second year as the event chair, Jeff is a 25-year cancer survivor. His first relay event was 10 years ago, volunteering with the Mesa Fire Department. He knew then he had to be a part of this event.
East Mesa’s Relay for Life was the first relay in the State of Arizona to raise a million dollars in the course of the event’s existence. In fact, the exact total is $1.3 million dollars. The goal for this year is $150,000. But it is not all about money with the relay. It is about honoring the loved ones lost to cancer, as well as celebrating survivors and caregivers. It is about giving back and being part of something bigger than all of us.
East Mesa’s relay is not only made of adults teams. In fact, of the 80 teams registered for this year, half of them are student-based. “Our relay is a wonderful mixture of youth and adult teams,” Jeff said. Teams of students, with teacher chaperones, come from five Mesa high schools, five junior high schools and seven elementary schools. Many are repeat teams from previous years. And 10 to 15 of those teams have been around for all 12 years.
Teams come together on this day to raise money, see old friends, share memories, cry together and embrace the love and compassion on that track.
Teams will set up their campsites all around the track, along with vendors selling food items. Luminaria bags will be decorated with In Honor of and In Memory of lining the track. Each team will set up a themed campsite for 24 hours, with coolers of food and water carried in by the armful.
Along with a survivor’s tent, located on the field, silent auction items will entice you. Pantene will be there cutting hair, which is 9 inches or longer, and using it to make wigs for survivors. Lots of fun activities will include two stages to house seven bands as well as soloists, throughout the 24 hours.
Opening ceremonies begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday, and the fun continues until 6 a.m. on Sunday. Firefighters will serve a free pancake breakfast. In between those hours, two heartwarming activities will honor survivors and caregivers, while remembering loved ones lost to cancer. At 6:30 p.m., there is a survivor’s dinner, and the luminaria ceremony starts at 8:30 p.m. Last year’s relay honored 200 survivors. This year’s goal is 250.
Relay for Life involves a yearlong planning process. Jeff has been the event chair for the past two years. “I couldn’t do this without the phenomenal volunteer committee and ACS liaison, Ashley Minchella,” said Jeff. His co-chair is Lyn Gorton. Laura Gorton plans entertainment, and Matt Chader handles logistics. Jill Chader is in charge of luminarias, while Sarah Mason, a senior at Red Mountain High School, plans events for survivors. Besides these amazing volunteers, countless others are helping to make this relay a success.
There are many opportunities to help. Jeff and his committee need at least 150 volunteers to help throughout the event. A golf tournament will take place on May 12. Participating food vendors are asked to donate a percentage of sales to the relay and sign up on a team. Items are needed for the silent auction. Sponsors or partnerships, such as MD Anderson Cancer Center or Las Sendas Tennis are needed, too. Anyone can be on a team. Survivors certainly are welcome. In addition, contributions of money are greatly appreciated.
In one way or another, many of us have been touched by cancer, whether we are a survivor or have lost a loved one to the disease. Cancer has no boundaries, and it doesn’t matter who you are, where you are or how old you are.
Relay for Life offers hope, encouragement and love. Once you attend a relay, you will be forever changed.
For more information about the East Mesa Relay for Life, visit the Web site at www.relayforlife.org/eastmesaaz.