Page 17 - Gears & Ears May 2015

Gears and Ears

Journal of the Rotary Club of Lake Buena Vista
Page 17
December 2014 May 2015
Page 17

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Gordon “Gordy” Klatt, M.D., founder of the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life event passed
away August 3, 2014, at the age of 71 from heart failure after battling stomach cancer.
Gordy was one-of-a-kind. He helped shape an idea that started off as one man running and walking a
track, and turned it into a global phenomenon for saving lives in every corner of the world.

Gordy’s Mission

One person can make a difference. Nowhere is that more evident than the story of Dr. Gordy Klatt and
the American Cancer Society Relay For Life event that started in Tacoma, Washington, as the City of
Destiny Classic 24-Hour Run Against Cancer in 1985.

In May 1985, Dr. Klatt spent a grueling 24 hours circling the track at Baker Stadium at the University of
Puget Sound in Tacoma.

Friends, family, and patients watched and supported him as he ran and walked more than 83.6 miles
and raised $27,000 through pledges for the fight against cancer. As he circled the track, he thought of
how he could get others to take part. He envisioned having teams participate in a 24-hour event to
raise money to fight cancer. In 1986, 19 teams were part of the first relay event at the historical Stadium
Bowl and raised $33,000.

Gordy’s vision has grown into a nationwide event raising nearly $5 billion in fundraising to save lives
from cancer. In addition, the American Cancer Society licenses 20 non-governmental cancer
organizations in other countries to hold Relay For Life events to battle cancer across the globe.

As Gordy would still say, “Keep up the fight!”