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Becky VanLoon

Becky VanLoon, National RFL Lead

 

What do you love? I mean the non-romantic love. This month (in particular) I want to say I love our volunteers and our staff.

 

I was texting with over 4,000 of our team captains in the past couple of weeks and I love when they shared their heart and passion with me. I love seeing people registering and raising money to fight cancer. I love sharing of ideas, supplies, energy.

 

AND I love the many staff partners that are helping us all out. My main staff partner, right now, is Bryan Sherwood. He has a heart and passion to help each of us and fight cancer in a big way. He is a big supporter, and I am so thankful for him. Take a peek at NRLT Corner to learn a little bit more about Bryan.

 

ACS Cancer Facts & Figures 2025 indicated that death rated for Native American and Black people are at least 2x higher than White people for many largely preventable cancers.

 

, a groundbreaking initiative led by ACS, is calling on Black women from all walks of life to join the movement. This isn’t just a study; it’s a collective commitment to understanding and improving the health of Black women across the nation. 

 

provides us the opportunity to build upon our legacy of transformational research to contribute to improved health outcomes throughout the Black community. And

2025 Nationwide Event Season Numbers:*

  • Teams: 10,134 (down 7%)
  • Participants: 48,070 (up 1%)
  • Survivors: 8,575 (up 7%)
  • Money Raised: $9,396,419 (up 3%)

Fundraising Levels:

  • Grand Club* ($1,000 raised): 1,258 (up 34%)
  • Team of Excellence ($50,000 raised): 7

*year-over-year

--Where do you live? Dallas, TX

--Reason for Relay-ing: All those that have heard the words "you have cancer"

--One book you would recommend others to read: I don't really read, but I do love my coffee table book "The Joy of Costco"

--If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why? To read people's minds, because who doesn't want to know what the person sitting across from them is thinking?!

--Favorite ice cream flavor: Cookies & Cream, or eggnog ice cream during the holidays!

--What is one thing you would like other volunteers to know: Your staff partners are here to support you along the way - we have an amazing team of staff across the country who love Relay and our volunteers!!

 

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

Cancer Facts and Figures 2025, pages 11-13 focuses on childhood cancer.

 

For children ages 0-19 there will be 9,550 children (ages 0-14 years) and 5,140 adolescents (ages 15-19) will be diagnosed with cancer, and 1050 children and 600 adolescents will die from the disease.

 

Cancer is the leading disease -related cause of death among both children and adolescents.

 

It is important to note that new cancers and impaired organ function and fertility challenges among other health conditions is nearly double that of the general population for children who have faced cancer by age 50.

 

For more about Gold Together, visit the page. Social Media assets are available .

 

The Global Relay (GRFL) program now stands at 35 partners, each a national cancer charity from different countries. We are proud to share that it continues to expand. In 2024 three new partners were added: Uganda Cancer Society, Bright Future Fund (Vietnam), and Qatar Cancer Society.

 

As with all our partners, training is delivered by a combination of GRFL staff and volunteers. The training in Doha, Qatar was delivered by Matt Lewis (GRFL Strategic Director) and with two volunteers, Finn Christensen from Denmark and Ellil Lakshman from Singapore. This training led to the successful implementation of their first Relay in October 2024. We welcome Qatar to the global family!

 

as they chat with Ellil Mathiyan and Finn Christensen about their time spent training Qatar!

 

 

Suzy Lawrence honored with ACS Volunteer Leadership Award

 

It was a night of well-deserved recognition at the 2025 Volunteer Leadership Summit in Dallas, TX, where outstanding volunteers and partners were celebrated for their contributions to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Among the honorees was Suzy Lawrence, who received the prestigious Volunteer Leadership Award for her dedication to the Relay For Life program and the ACS mission.

 

For the past two years, Suzy has served as the lead of the nationwide Relay For Life leadership team, the highest volunteer position in the program. A passionate Relayer and ACS volunteer for more than 30 years, she has embraced her leadership role by attending more than a dozen events and fundraisers—often at her own expense—to support and thank fellow volunteers and ACS staff.

 

Take a look at what Relays are in the News!

Find something you want to learn more about? Reach out to the event and ask away--collaboration will help us grow!

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You can always contact us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 1-800-227-2345

or at .

 

The American Cancer Society | 270 Peachtree Street NW, Suite 1300 | Atlanta, GA 30303, US

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