Relay For Life Symbol

The Relay for Life symbol reminds cancer patients and those who love them of the victories that have been made in the fight to cure a devastating disease, as well the progress still left to be made.

It’s a simple logo – the shape of a crescent moon and the rays of the sun, accentuated by a single star to the left of it. However, this basic symbol stands for countless struggles and lives that have been affected by the ravaging illness of cancer. When the American Cancer Society benefitted from the first Relay for Life in 1986, perhaps no one had any idea the impact it would make on both research and the saving of lives, but it is evident today thanks to the hundreds of races run each year across the country.

It started out as a community event, and continues to be one today, as ordinary individuals – expert runners or not – raise money in their region to race for cancer’s cure. When an event is happening in your city, you may see the Relay for Life symbol in neighborhoods, storefronts, college campuses and even corporate buildings where a group of work professionals come together for a run. The symbol also enjoys a large Internet presence, and it’s hard to miss when you’re looking for ways to help cancer research move forward and continue to save precious lives.

When one sees the Relay for Life symbol, he or she is reminded of the day and night battle for survival many men, women and children face on a daily basis. For those suffering from the hurts of cancer, there is no reprieve. The symbol stands for the nobleness and courage of these individuals, and the work we may be called to contribute to helping them in their fight.

If you are putting together a Relay for Life in your community, you are probably working very hard at getting sponsors and organizing the actual event itself. However, in an effort to look more “official”, many well-intentioned individuals violate the terms of the American Cancer Society’s logo usage. Race participants are not always authorized to include the Relay for Life logo on their fundraising materials, and it’s important to check the organization’s trademark specifications before moving forward.

So who can use the logo? Generally, a team can use the logo on their fundraising website as long as it is not displayed in a very prominent location, and is not tied to any commercial endorsement. If you have any sort of profit to make (including community promotional items, the Relay for Life symbol cannot be associated with this. However, even some fundraising ideas you may have, such as making a cookbook to sell or having a craft fair, may not be appropriate for the logo. Wording and image placement are subject to very specific rules and regulations, so check out the guidelines linked above or contact your local American Cancer Society branch to determine what you are permitted to use.

The Relay for Life symbol is no longer just representative of one small community race as it was over 20 years ago. It is now an overnight celebration of cancer patients and survivors which takes place in over 24 countries. One of the reasons this symbol of hope has become so synonymous with the American Cancer Society, is because its momentum has been built up by communities. The impact of word of mouth referrals and the gathering together of friends and family cannot be outdone.

The Relay for Life also includes a Ceremony of Hope, also known as the Relay’s luminaria ceremony. During this side event, hundreds (sometimes thousands) of candles are placed along the side of the Relay track, burning in honor of those who have cancer, often left to light up overnight as a further symbol of hope, strength and victory.

Finally, the Relay for Life symbol and its accompanying accomplishments are carried further than we can fathom, as they are in the hearts of every cancer patient and survivor. The community races are especially poignant for those who have just been diagnosed with some form of the disease, as it gives them a chance to begin the emotional healing process, as their body fights to do the same. The Relay for Life has become an unstoppable force, and will continue to make a huge impact in the world for future generations until a cure is found.

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