Anyone who attends Relay for Life or hears about Klatt’s mission, immediately become inspired to be apart of this remarkable organization. Dr. Gordy once said “Relayers make the money. The money funds the research. Research kills cancer. Therefore relayers kill cancer!” He also said and believed that “Relayers around the world will make a difference.” Relay for Life is the epitome of how a person would describe the ultimate utopia. People who have experienced Relay for Life first hand would agree that for those 24 hours you become apart of the utopian impulse that Klatt had envisioned. The feeling you get during those 24 hours …show more content…
Currently, 7.6 million people die from cancer worldwide every year, out of which, 4 million people die early from ages 30 to 69 years. Based on research conducted in 2012 approximately 39.6 percent of men and women will be diagnosed with cancer at some point during their lifetime. It is estimated that there are 1,658,370 new cases of cancer and 589,430 estimated deaths from cancer this year alone. Cancer affects people of all race, all genders and all ages around the world. Not only does cancer affect the person diagnosed but also the people that around them. Each year nearly 13,500 children are diagnosed with cancer in the US, and each year 13,500 families are affected by this grueling disease. The average age of death for a child with cancer is eight years old, causing a child to lose sixty nine years of expected life. The reality of these statistics represent the distopia in this utopian vision started by Dr. Gordy. The distopia of cancer is what drove Klatt everyday to turning his utopian dream into a …show more content…
Everyone in the world is some way or another affected by cancer, whether it be because you are personally battling it or a loved one is. Relay for life is designed to be a family friendly environment that is packed with activities, food and entertainment. It is centered around one thing and that is raising money to find a cure to cancer. At each Relay for Life there are teams of people camp out around a track and each members of the teams take turns walking around the track. During this 24 hour event there is a survivors lap which allows all cancer survivors to take the first lap around the track, celebrating their victory against cancer while being cheered on by the other participants who line the track. Another incredible yet emotional thing that takes place is the Luminaria Ceremony. The ceremony takes place at dark to remember those who have lost the fight against cancer and those who 's fight continues. Candles are lit inside of a bags and are placed around the Relay track in tribute to those who’ve been affected by cancer. The last thing that happens at each event is called the fight back ceremony. This ceremony is designed to inspire the participants to take action against this disease. The ceremony symbolizes the emotional yet incredible role that each one of us can make in this fight against cancer. It helps us take action in what we are