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Becky VanLoon

Becky VanLoon, National RFL Lead

This past week has been a tough week for me. A co-worker of mine passed away. A former co-worker, mother, and soon-to-be grandmother passed from rectal cancer. A co-workers 20s-aged son passed away from B-Core cancer after fighting it for eight years. And my best friend filled me in on her treatment plan in her fight against breast cancer. Sometimes it is hard to be the loud cancer fighter cheering everyone when your heart is hurting. Sometimes you have to just do what you can do each day. And you always need to remember that “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, “I will try again tomorrow.” – Mary Anne Radmacher

 

Speaking of starting again...We are already having events get ready for the 2026 season and rolling over their websites to start their campaign(s). Please be sure to work with your staff about when your event will roll over to 2026. Best practice is two months after your 2025 event, but we want you to do what is best for you.

 

Have any questions? and I can either help or connect you with your Region Liaison.

Connecting Cancer Survivors

Another great service offered by ACS is the Cancer Survivors Network (CSN).

 

CSN is a peer support community for cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, families, and friends! CSN is a safe place to connect with others who share your interests and experiences. The site has discussion boards, chatrooms, cancer information and other cancer survivors.

 

Check it out at:

 

2025 Nationwide Event Season Numbers (year-over-year):

  • Teams: 18,451 (down 8%)
  • Participants: 127,854 (down 5%)
  • Survivors: 26,501 (down 3%)
  • Money Raised: $45,731,681 (up 2%)

Special Note:

Please encourage signing up for Relay but also fundraising. For fundraising and , check out .

 

Fundraising Levels:

  • Grand Club ($1,000 raised): 5,976
  • Team of Excellence ($50,000 raised): 45

A special CONGRATULATIONS to events that reached goal. Some of these events have reached goal even before their event. Do you want to congratulate them? and go to the event website to reach out and congratulate them.

"We rise by lifting others" -Robert Ingersoll

Debbie McDonald, Regional RFL Liaison

--Where do you live? Alvin, TX

--Reason for Relay-ing: We started Relay as a family after my sister-in-law battled breast cancer. When my mother-in-law was diagnosed, I got heavily involved and promised to her on her death bed to never quit...then I lost my dad, and it deepened my commitment. Then my husband had to hear those words...I push the mission so my kids and grandkids are given a better opportunity to never hearing those words.

--If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why? I would want the superpower of knowledge. With knowledge so many of the worlds problems could have solution. I would love to be a part of a solution than a cause of one.

--Favorite ice cream flavor: Vanilla or Cherry Vanilla

--Book you recommend: Be the Sun, Not the Salt by Harry D. Cohen

--What is one thing you would like other volunteers to know: I went thru extensive training to become a Mental Health First Aider. I did it to assist those I work with as the construction industry has the largest number of suicides in the work force world. I did it to be able to help my fellow brothers and sisters who are facing life altering experiences such as cancer. It is hard to listen to someone in a crisis and not be able to help them...but it is reassuring to know I am there to be a shoulder and a resource for them.

*stay up-to-date with all upcoming and past trainings on ACS Resources at

How do you honor/recognize your pediatric cancer SURVIVORS at your Relay for Life event?

 

Relay For Life of Shawnee County, KS has a “Hero Lap.” The pediatric cancer survivors lead the lap with their friends from the “Just Us League” (a non-profit group of amazing people that come in costume as heroes). Local heroes from the community are also invited to join in on the lap – doctors, nurses or anyone else from the Health Care Community. Police and Sheriff’s Departments plus EMT’s. Often-times a drum line from a local high school is used to add extra excitement to this lap and local cheerleading teams are invited to cheer on those walking the lap. Flyers are made to distribute around the community to help make everyone aware of this special lap during Relay For Life. This lap generally takes place about an hour after the Survivor Lap of the opening ceremony.

 

Please email and share what YOUR event does to honor and recognize pediatric cancer survivors.

Relay For Life is the ultimate community engagement tool, it has been uniting communities to Celebrate, Remember, and Fight Back since 1985. With 36 licensed partners around the world, it has shown its broad appeal and ability to fit with all cultures and geographies.

 

A Relay partner since 2005, the National Cancer Society of Malaysia continues to deliver strong Relays adding in 2024 new locations and additional features raising vital funds for cancer prevention and support services.

 

Relay For Life Malaysia 2025 will consist of a mix of events: a Torch Relay carrying the Relay Torch across different cities; a R(elay) Day event which will be a day event consisting of a Fun Run and other family fun activities; and a Luminaria night event celebrating people living with cancer. In 2025, Relay For Life Malaysia will be held in Penang, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Perak, Johor and Melaka.

 

The “Journey of Hope” Torch is an extraordinary fine art piece, meticulously crafted in 2023 by Mr. Liu Cheng Hua, the esteemed Head of Fine Arts at the Malaysia Institute of Arts. This unique torch, the only one of its kind in Malaysia, stands as a powerful symbol in Relay for Life Malaysia, embodying the resilience of cancer survivors and the collective strength of the community in combating cancer.

R-Day is a half-day event, beginning in the morning and ending by a little past noon. During this event participants are engaged in a whole range of physical activity events clustered around the R-Day venue, which is usually a public park or a stadium. R-Day will include a general fun run as well as specific events for individuals from different aged-groups and activities for the whole family.

When a Luminaria Light is lit, we honor someone’s whose life is touched by cancer.

 

We gather; We grieve

We hope; We celebrate

 

The Light of Luminaria is our guiding light, the reason for us to keep fighting.

 

The CEO of NCSM Dr Murali made a strategic decision post-covid to drive Relay expansion to new communities and to generate a new energy around the program. This has seen three new events created and record numbers of participants attending them.

 

from Relay For Life in Penang

Nominations can be made by fellow volunteers with support from ACS staff. The Nationwide Pat Flynn Spirit of Relay Award will be selected by the Nationwide American Cancer Society Fundraising Leadership Teams (NCFLT) for both Community and Campus events.

  • To access the flyer and nomination form, (it's on ACS Resources).
  • Questions - Email
  • Deadline to submit a nomination is NOVEMBER 7, 2025
Take a look at what Relays are in the News!

Some of these stories are SO cool and you have a whole month before I send the next round out! Take a look. You might find a great idea from another Relay from anywhere in the world!!

Do you have a photo from your event that you would like to have shared? Or a story link to share about your event? Email me at . Be sure to include your event name and location along with your name when you email me.

Do you have a photo from your event that you would like to have shared? Or a story link to share about your event? Email me at . Be sure to include your event name and location along with your name when you email me.
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