The Rotary Club of Kāpiti has once again made a commitment to support Relay for life early in the New Year.
Speaking on this subject at a recent Rotary meeting, Rotarian Ken Milne described the beginnings of this idea to raise money for cancer world-wide.
In May 1985, Dr. Gordon Klatt, colorectal surgeon from Tacoma Washington State USA, decided to raise money to fight cancer in memory of a young man who had recently died of cancer, by walking or running for 24 hours at his local university athletics track. His initial effort raised US$27,000.
Since then, this initiative has grown exponentially, and spread throughout 22 countries, and has now raised in excess of $5 Billion. Unfortunately, Dr. Klatt died in August of this year from stomach cancer, but until the end he continued raising money for the cause.
“The Kāpiti event was an outstanding success last year, and walkers from all over the Kāpiti District, representing many organizations and schools, participated in raising a substantial sum for cancer support in the local Kāpiti community at the Paraparaumu Domain” said Dr Milne.
The next Kāpiti Relay for Life event is expected to be held in February 2015.
