RFL Around the Track

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Becky VanLoon, National RFL Lead

I got to make a trip to the ER last week. Why? Because I did not look on the stairs I was descending and stepped on a dog toy and took a tumble. As I was lying in bed that evening waiting on my adrenaline to go down so I could sleep, I came up with a nowhere-near analogy to share with you.

I was going on my merry ol' way not really paying attention and something came along that tripped me up and caused me to reset and refresh. Many of us have had that in our lives, going along and tripped up with a cancer diagnosis, causing us to reset before continuing on. This is just one reason it is SO important to go to your preventative tests and check out ACS CancerRisk360.

It can also happen as we are doing events. We do the same thing we always do and continue on without refresh or reset until something happens and then we aren't prepared. This can be prevented by keeping up with succession planning and annually reviewing what attendees like/dislike about the event, keeping an eye on changing trends in the community, and watching what other Relays are doing.

If nothing else, this month, please make the time to make a plan. A plan to go get your preventative care done, a plan to refresh your events, and a plan to watch out for those pesky dog toys.

Facility Dogs Bring Joy and Calm to Pediatric Oncology Patients and Families

“Animal-assisted therapy for children who are in the hospital is widely considered a safe way to decrease anxiety, stress, depression, and pain while increasing joy and calmness,” said Dr. Arif Kamal, chief patient officer of the American Cancer Society. “PAWS funding fills critical gaps for these programs and helps improve cancer outcomes by making our youngest patients more comfortable while undergoing treatment.”

Collectively, the American Cancer Society’s 2024 PAWS projects have touched more than 10,000 children and families impacted by cancer.

Read the rest of the article here.

2025 Nationwide Event Season Numbers:*

Teams: 12,114 (down 6%)
Participants: 63,782 (up 2%)
Survivors: 11,182 (up 6%)
Money Raised: $13,530,697 (up 6%)

Special Note:

While we are up 2% in participants, only 31,609 (down 2%) are fundraising. Please do not just encourage signing up for Relay, but also fundraising. For fundraising ideas, check out ACSResources.

Fundraising Levels:

Grand Club ($1,000 raised): 1,771
Team of Excellence ($50,000 raised): 11
List of Top Performers

*year-over-year

CHERYL BARTETZKO, Regional RFL Liaison

--Where do you live? Laguna Woods, CA

--Reason for Relay-ing: I hate cancer!

--One book you would recommend others to read: "Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted" by Suleika Jaouad

--If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why? Teach people to eliminate negativity in their world

--Favorite ice cream flavor: Rocky Road

--What is one thing you would like other volunteers to know: I will do everything I can to help in the fight against cancer

TRAINING

March 27, 7 p.m. Central -- Ceremony Best Practices
Anytime -- ACS RFL Training Podcast
Anytime -- RFL Training: Relay 101
Anytime -- VOICES of Black Women General Volunteer Training (to be updated in the next couple weeks)

CHALLENGES

April 7-10 -- 40 Years of Impact Fundraising Challenge
May 1 -- Gordy's Giveback Day (coming soon)

*stay up-to-date with all upcoming and past trainings on ACS Resources at https://www.acsresources.org/relayforlife/training/

Gold Together volunteers partnered with ACS CAN for Alliance For Childhood Cancer Action Days in DC. on Feb 28th.

--Cindy Vo has been sharing her childhood/AYA story with legislators both in her state of Georgia and in DC. She is currently featured on www.fightcancer.org with a call to action to ask U.S. Senators to vote NO on cuts to Medicaid. Currently 1 in 3 newly diagnosed child has treatment and clinical trials covered by Medicaid and 50% of all children in the US rely on this critical safety net.

--Congrats to Gold Together team captains Casey Garness, RFL of North County San Diego, staffed by Kaylee Hage and Stormy Thibodeaux, RFL Bay Area staffed by Briana Trevino were recognized for their Gold Together team achievement of $110k and $98K. (pictured above)

-- As of February 2025, ACS is funding 86 multi-year research grants for a total of $50 million that are specific to childhood cancer.

Here in the Northern Hemisphere, we are just emerging from the depths of winter, meanwhile in the global South they are enjoying their hotter months and along with that their Relay season is in full swing.

In New Zealand in March and April they will host 15 Relays all across the country. The New Zealand Cancer Society has been a partner since 2001 and have successfully adapted Relay to fit with their culture. Their progrm comprises both tradiitonal community Relays as well as a growing number of youth high school Relays all raising funds to support the New Zealand Cancer Societies mission of "Improving community wellbeing by reducing the incidence and impact of cancer" You can check out the program website here https://relayforlife.org.nz/ or take a look at Relay For Life of Wellington here.

Ending cancer starts on campus, and Campus RFL is leading the charge. Kieryn Hewitt and alongside Allison Wise serve as the RFL College and High School Chairs. Together, they help drive the strategy for collegiate and youth fundraising efforts nationwide through the National Campus & Youth Engagement Team (NCYET). Their team provides support, develops resources, and fosters a nationwide network of students, faculty, and staff dedicated to the fight against cancer. Please take a few minutes to read this article by Kieryn.

Why Should Students Get Involved?

Our generation is the future of RFL, and together, we have the power to make a lasting impact. By getting involved, students can develop essential skills that will benefit them for years to come. From building leadership experience by guiding and supporting their peers to gaining volunteer experience through teamwork, communication, and event planning, Relay offers countless growth opportunities. Most importantly, it’s a meaningful way to honor loved ones who have faced cancer while making a real difference in the fight against this disease.

How Can Students Get Involved?

Currently, Campus RFL events take place in 42 out of 50 states, including D.C. and Puerto Rico. To find a Campus Relay event near you, check out this link, join an event, and start your team! If your school or state (Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, Oregon, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nevada, or New Mexico) doesn’t have a RFL event, you can start one! Simply fill out the Interest Form, connect with an ACS staff member, complete New Chapter Onboarding, and begin planning your event. Be the leader who brings RFL to your campus and helps make a lasting impact in the fight against cancer!

If you have any questions about student involvement or are a student looking to get involved, feel free to reach out! Allison and I are here to help, and our contact information is listed below. We’d love to connect and support you in making an impact through Campus Relay For Life!

--Kieryn Hewitt, RFL College Chair, [email protected]

--Allison Wise, RFL High School Chair, [email protected]