International Relay For Life: One World - One Hope!

Photo on right: Relay For Life in Malaysia

The American Cancer Society’s signature activity has become an international movement. International Relay For Life (IRFL) events are now held in more than 600 communities spanning 21 countries. This unique activity, designed to celebrate survivorship and raise money for life-saving research and programs, unites and mobilizes community members committed to eliminating cancer.

The International Relay For Life Program enables cancer leagues around the world to increase their visibility and generate cancer awareness, outreach, and income while building survivorship, volunteerism, and advocacy efforts in their communities.

In 2009, local volunteers will organize overnight Relay For Life events to support cancer organizations in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, The Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Portugal, South Africa, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.

Through International Relay, survivors are given the spotlight to show that there is life after diagnosis. These “International Heroes of Hope” inspire other community members who have been touched by cancer. They are a testament to the progress that has been made in the fight against cancer and are changing the face of survivorship worldwide.

For more information visit http://www.relayforlife.org/relay/international.

Relay For Life in South Africa

IRFL Organizations and Licensing

The American Cancer Society licenses International Relay For Life to international cancer organizations with community-based programs and services. These partners share our mission to eliminate cancer as a major health problem through research, education, advocacy, and service. Like us, they do not focus on one type of cancer. Through continuous training and technical assistance offerings, the International Relay program supports partner organizations to ensure their successful implementation and development of the Relay For Life model.

Additional Resources

Map of Global Relay For Life Events

2009 International Relay For Life Dates

International Relay For Life photos

Additional International Programs

For more information about our International Relay For Life programs email Darnelle Bernier at darnelle.bernier@cancer.org. For other international programs, including how to support the global fight against cancer, please send an email to international@cancer.org. For information on the American Cancer Society University, a unique international scholarship program to build capacity and cancer control in other countries, please email acsuniversity@cancer.org