Ready to walk the Survivor's Lap |
Nationally, the Relay For Life has it's roots in 1985, when a Tacoma Washington colorectal surgeon named Gordy Klatt held his own event, walking over 83 miles in 24 hours while friends paid $25 to run or walk 30 minutes with him. That year Dr. Klatt raised $27,000. As he walked the track, he came up with the idea of a 24 hour team relay event. Within months he assembled a committee to help plan the event, known then as the City of Destiny Classic 24-Hour Run Against Cancer. That event raised $33,000.