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Becky VanLoon, National RFL Lead
February has already been a full month—between the groundhog predicting a longer winter, the start of the Winter Olympics, and celebrating all of our National Relay For Life award winners! If you missed the announcements, please take a moment to check them out on social media and send your congratulations.
And a quick reminder: start saving notes and photos now for your 2026 award submissions. Track great work from individuals, teams, events, and staff throughout the year.
In 2023, ACS updated the Relay For Life logo as part of a brand refresh.
We’ve had some flexibility in making the transition, but now it’s time for everyone to use the new logo.
Please delete any old versions from your files and download the updated ones (link in the "More 2 Know" section). You do not need to replace existing stock like luminaria bags or past-year banners, but anything new moving forward must use the updated logo.
If the National Relay Leadership Team sees the old logo being used, we will reach out so you can correct it.
This update is important, and in this month’s “More 2 Know” (below), Staff Member Jen explains why.
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Love Notes Around The World is a volunteer-led ACS platform where individuals and groups have opportunities to create, share, and/or send messages of compassion to cancer patients in treatment, caretakers, care providers, and others in need.
You can create your own cards, download any artwork from the Love Note Library, send an eCard to someone you know, use arts and craft supplies you have at home, or purchase cards at your local store.
Learn how you can give share the love at https://www.acsresources.org/lovenotes/
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A Quick (and Important) Brand Reminder 💜
You’ll see me pop up from time to time with brand reminders, and this one is especially important. How we use the Relay For Life logo and brand colors.
The Relay For Life logo is a registered trademark of the American Cancer Society. That means it’s legally protected and must be used exactly as designed. The logo should always be used as-is, with no color changes, stretching, redesigns, or creative tweaks. This includes using the official Relay color palette, especially Relay Purple, which is a key part of what makes Relay For Life instantly recognizable in every community.
Why does this matter? Consistent brand use helps participants, donors, sponsors, and partners immediately recognize Relay For Life as an official American Cancer Society movement. When logos or colors are altered, even with the best of intentions, it can create confusion about what is (or isn’t) officially affiliated with Relay For Life and, over time, weaken the strength and credibility of the brand nationwide.
I know everyone’s heart is in the right place, and I truly appreciate the creativity and energy volunteers bring to their events. At the same time, following brand guidelines isn’t optional; it’s a shared responsibility when representing Relay For Life publicly. Protecting the brand protects the mission and all of us.
Please use only approved Relay For Life logos and colors, and avoid any adjustments. If you’re ever unsure or need the correct assets, reach out before creating materials. We’re always happy to help, and we’d much rather answer a quick question and have Relay put the best foot forward.
Thank you for helping keep Relay For Life strong, consistent, and instantly recognizable 💜
— Jen, Marketing Strategy Partner, Relay For Life
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2026 Nationwide Event Season Numbers (year-over-year): -
Teams: 8,883 (down)
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Participants: 39,247 (down)
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Fundraising Participants: 20,453 (down)
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Survivors: 7,704 (down)
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Money Raised: $9,277,915 (up)
Fundraising Levels: -
2026 Grand Club ($1,000 raised): 1,254
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2026 Team of Excellence ($50,000 raised): 7
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CHALLENGES
TRAINING
*stay up-to-date with all upcoming and past trainings on ACS Resources at https://www.acsresources.org/relayforlife/training/)
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Inspiration from the 2025 RFL South Region Event of the Year!
“This year my Team LARSEA registered as a Gold Together Team for two reasons.
The first reason is that Laredo Area Retired School Employees Association (LARSEA) is celebrating its Golden Anniversary of advocacy, community service, and member well-being, and gold is the color of the Childhood Awareness Month ribbon.
Secondly and most importantly, all of our members dedicated many years educating and serving the children in our community; therefore, it is our duty to continue supporting our children who might be going through a cancer journey by raising awareness and funds for childhood cancer research.” -Team Captain Laura Nanez, RFL of Webb County, Laredo, TX
“They saw this as an opportunity to inspire the community to do more for the Gold Together initiative since the Relay event has a strong presence of school teams participating in RFL Webb County.
” - Allison Miracle, Senior Development Manager, CFF
Thank you LARSEA and congratulations!
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We are starting within a series this year to explore 12 of our partner countries. The second in our series is Malaysia. They began partnering with us in 2007.
Tell Us a little about Relay in Malaysia:
The National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) held the country’s first Relay in Penang in 2007, and the movement has since expanded to states including Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Selangor, Johor, and Perak.
Since its inception, Relay For Life Malaysia has engaged over 100,000 participants, including more than 10,000 cancer survivors and 7,500 volunteers, making it one of the nation’s most impactful cancer awareness events.
The event features inclusive activities such as a 5km fun run, Luminaria ceremonies, community challenges, and family-friendly programmes designed to involve all ages and support survivors.
Beyond fundraising, Relay For Life Malaysia strengthens cancer awareness, encourages early detection and healthy lifestyles, builds support networks for survivors and caregivers, and unites communities in reducing stigma and promoting hope.
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What makes Malaysia Relay unique?
Relay For Life Malaysia stands out for its strong national character and community involvement. Its signature feature is the Torch Relay, where a torch is carried across cities and states before the main event, building nationwide visibility, unity, and cancer awareness. Communities gather along the route, making Relay more than a single event—it becomes a national movement of hope.
Malaysia’s Relay is also powered by broad partnerships with hospitals, community groups, corporations, local councils, and schools, ensuring wide participation and strong support for education, survivorship, and volunteer engagement.
Together, the Torch Relay and cross-sector collaboration create a uniquely inclusive and connected Relay For Life model with lasting national impact.
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Take a look at what Relays are in the news! From creative fundraisers to inspiring survivor stories, Relays around the world continue to make headlines and inspire action.
You might find your next great idea right here!
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