Every year, students at schools across Canada come together to enjoy entertainment, games, food and friendship – all while raising funds for the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS).
Relay For Life is an event like no other because it gives students an opportunity to step up, build school spirit, and make a real difference for an important cause.
Relay has broken down the social ‘walls’ between grades because when you’re all working toward a common goal of a future without cancer, we’re all on the same team.
As a student leader and Relay organizer, Sadie shares the top 3 reasons to bring Relay to your school:
Relay empowers students as leaders
When planning Relay For Life, students step into leadership roles to boost school spirit and make a real impact for cancer while gaining experience with teamwork and community building.
While educators and school staff provide support, students take the lead on planning and execution.
Being involved with Relay has been a huge confidence builder. It's shown me I'm capable of managing a large-scale project and professional relationships, which I'll take with me long after graduation.
Students rally around a common cause
With nearly half of Canadians expected to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, almost every student knows someone who has been affected. Relay events strengthen school communities because students bond over a common meaningful cause.
There’s been a shift in our school’s identity because of Relay. We aren’t just students attending classes together; we’ve become a unified community organizing together for something bigger than ourselves.
Together, students make an impact
School communities walk together so people living with cancer, and everyone remembering loved ones they’ve lost, never have to walk alone.
Last year, more than 60,000 students from over 250 schools raised more than $10M to help:
- fund the brightest minds in cancer research
- make healthy living easier
- support Canadians living with cancer.
At our first committee meeting, I was so nervous that only a few people would show up. But when I walked in, the room was filled. We've all been affected by cancer and want to make an impact. It made me realize we weren't just planning an event – we were starting a new school legacy.
CCS is here to support you
The CCS team is here to help students and schools organize Relay every step of the way! We provide tips and tools to help ensure your Relay is an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.
Sadie says it best:
“If you’re thinking about bringing Relay to your school, lean into the newness and don’t be intimidated. Once you take the first step and say ‘we’re doing this,’ you’ll be surprised at how many people were just waiting for someone to lead the way. Plus, with the support from CCS, you feel like a part of a powerful team.
Interested in bringing Relay to a school near you? We want to hear from you! Registration for next year is open now!
Help create a future without cancer
With support from readers like you, we can continue to make a meaningful impact for people affected by cancer.
We are determined to increase survival, stop cancer before it starts, and improve lives. But we can’t do it without you.
If everyone reading this gave just $5, we could achieve our goal this month to fund the most promising research, compassionate support and transformative advocacy. Please give today because every contribution counts. Thank you.