Lace up for shorter Relay for Life on June 19

The 2015 Sudbury Relay for Life will pay tribute to the event's global reach with this year's theme: relay around the world.

“It's a global phenomenon,” said Estelle Joliat, co-chair of the Sudbury Relay for Life.

The first Relay for Life was in Tacoma, Washington in 1985.

Dr. Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon, wanted to enhance the income of his local American Cancer Society office. He decided to personally raise money by running for 24 hours straight.

The next year, 340 people in Klatt's community joined him for the relay, and the event spread from there.

Each year, there are now 5,000 relays held across 20 countries around the world.

The Sudbury relay celebrates its 16th year in 2015. It's scheduled to take place at Laurentian University's Ben Avery track June 19 from 6 p.m. to midnight.

In past years the relay lasted 12 hours, but the time commitment was halved in 2015 to attract more participants.

“People have really embraced this new format,” said Joliat.

Organizers expect around 1,200 participants and 500 cancer survivors to take part.

The Sudbury Relay for Life raised $368,000 in 2014. The goal is to raise $400,000 in 2015.

For more information about the Sudbury Relay for Life, or to register, click here.