Frequently asked questions

What is Relay For Life?

Relay For Life is a global movement to end cancer. Relay is active in 29 countries and 6,000 communities worldwide, whereby participants commit to raising funds for work against all types of cancer.

Since 1999, Relay has united a collective of Canadians to take on cancer. At Relay events, participants of all ages gather at a community space and take turns walking around a track or path to symbolize the perseverance and action needed to change the future of cancer.

During Relay, we honour Participants of Hope during our first lap the Lap of Hope. When the sun goes down, luminaries light the track in memory of those we have lost.

Participants are asked to fundraise to:

• fund the brightest minds in cancer research
• provide a compassionate support system for all those affected by cancer, from coast to coast and for all types of cancer
• work with governments to establish health policies to prevent cancer and better support those living with the disease

Wherever your Relay takes place, you will be joining thousands of people across the country who have shown up to support their communities. Join us, and together, we can give people with cancer the help and support they need to lead more fulfilling lives.

When is the Relay For Life?

Relay For Life takes place on Saturday, June 7 or 14, 2025. Check out your local Relay event for right time and venue information.

Where is Relay For Life?

Relay For Life takes place in communities across the country. Sign up in your community here. If you don’t see your community listed, you can still be part of Relay by choosing Relay My Way.

Who organizes Relay For Life?

Relay For Life is organized and executed by volunteer committees, supported by the Canadian Cancer Society staff. The generous support of volunteers helps keep costs down, which directs more money to fund groundbreaking cancer research, compassionate support services, trusted cancer information and advocacy on behalf of all Canadians. If you would like to be a part of this amazing group of people check out our current volunteer opportunities.

How can I organize a Relay in my community?

Our Relay My Way program allows you to offer a reimagined Relay experience to people in your community. A minimum of 2 volunteers must be committed to fundraise a minimum of $10,000. To obtain a fundraising page for your event, you must provide Canadian Cancer Society, names of the volunteers, your fundraising goal and the date of your event, before November 29th. If you have any questions, please contact us at relay@cancer.ca.

If I invite others to join me the day of Relay, do they have to pay to participate?

We encourage anyone who wants to participate in Relay For Life to register as a participant online and fundraise.

What happens if I don’t reach my commitment?

If you don’t fundraise a minimum of $150 (adult) or $60 (youth) by Relay event day, we encourage you to make the personal donation which is tax receiptable. To help you reach your goal, you can look at our Participant Fundraising Toolkit, for fun and easy fundraising ideas.

If you are still having difficulty reaching your fundraising goal, please contact us at connect@cancer.ca or 1-888-939-3333 and someone from our team will gladly provide you with some guidance and tips and tools!

Where does the money raised through Relay For Life go?

Funds raised through Relay For Life events support CCS to continue to fund the most promising cancer research projects, advocate for policies that protect the health of all Canadians, and provide reliable information, resources and support to every person affected by cancer in the country.

Is the Canadian Cancer Society a registered charity?

Yes. The Canadian Cancer Society’s charitable number is 118829803 RR 0001. When you donate to the Canadian Cancer Society, you will receive a tax receipt.

How do I learn more about becoming a sponsor of Relay For Life?

For more information about national or provincial sponsorship, please contact corporate@cancer.ca. For local sponsorship opportunities, please email relay@cancer.ca.

Can I fundraise by going door-to-door?

We do not encourage volunteers or participants to solicit funds by door-to-door canvassing.

Advisory re: door-to-door canvassing

In our experience, some individuals elect to canvass neighbours in their communities as part of their fundraising efforts.

If you are approached by a canvasser who states that they are raising money for the Canadian Cancer Society, please follow this advice:

• If you know and trust the canvasser and you want to donate, please donate by giving the canvasser a cheque made out to the Canadian Cancer Society. Do not give cash.
• If a canvasser is unknown to you and you want to support the Canadian Cancer Society, please visit the Relay website at www.relayforlife.ca for donation options.
• If you are suspicious of a canvasser, please take note of their appearance and contact your local police department.

Will my information be shared or traded with anyone?

No. The Canadian Cancer Society will not share your information with any outside agencies/organizations or individuals without prior consent or if the disclosure is permitted or required by law. For more information, please refer to our privacy policy.

We collect your personal information through forms, by phone or in person to process your donation, issue a tax receipt, and contact you to provide updates about our impact and other ways to support us or give. We may share your personal information with third parties including payment processors, consultants and agency partners within or outside your province or territory or outside Canada to carry out the purposes identified above, or as required by law.  We may contact you by mail, email, phone or text. You can exercise your right to access your information or have it corrected, unsubscribe from communications or withdraw your consent by calling 1-888-939-3333 or emailing connect@cancer.ca. For more information about our privacy practices, visit cancer.ca/privacy.

What are the different participation types?

There are 3 ways you can register to participate in Relay For Life:

1. Start a team and become a team captain. Team captains are an important part of Relay’s success. Build your team and work together to reach your goals. For example, a team of 10 members can have 10 times the impact!
2. Join a team that already exists. From fundraising to event day, share your Relay experience with a team, working together to meet your goals and celebrate successes!
3. Participate as an individual. Register, set your goal, fundraise and make a difference at Relay! If you want, you'll be able to join or create a team later.

How do I register for a Relay For Life event?

We can't wait to welcome you at Relay! To register:

1. Find your event.
2. Choose your participation type.
3. Create an account or sign in with the one you already have.
4. Follow the rest of the registration prompts.

If you're starting a new team, you'll have to create a team name that isn't already taken. If you're joining an existing team, you'll need to know the name of the team you want to join.

How much is registration for Relay For Life?

There is no cost to register for Relay For Life. You can choose to raise a minimum of $150 (or $60 as a youth participant) in donations to support the Canadian Cancer Society.

Can I use my username and password from previous years?

Yes, you can. We encourage you to use the same username and password from the last time you participated in Relay For Life.

What if I don’t remember my username or password?

Click here to recover your username and/or password or us at connect@cancer.ca or toll-free at 1-888-939-3333. Don’t create a new account.

Can I register offline?

Yes, you can register offline by downloading a participant form from your Relay site page.

Once stamped, please mail your completed participant form to:

ATTN: Gift Processing Department
Canadian Cancer Society
55 St Clair Avenue West, Suite 300
Toronto, Ontario
M4V 2Y7

Please do not mail cash.

Participants who choose to register offline must submit their completed participant form to the Gift Processing Department for their donations to be added to their fundraising totals and their team’s, if applicable.

How do I register a team?

A fast and easy way to register a team is by registering online. Choose your Relay community from our Find an event page. Once you have chosen your Relay community, click on the Sign-Up button. From here you will select the ‘Start a New Team' option and proceed with the registration process.

How do I join a team?

Choose your Relay community from our Find an event page. Once you have selected your Relay For Life community, click on the Sign up button. From here, you will be able to select ‘Join a Team' option to join an existing team, or you can restart a team from last year that you were a member of. Another option is to contact the team captain, who can register you on the team.

If you are registering for Relay My Way or a Relay event that has merged with another, unfortunately, you will not be able to restart a team from previous years. You can still use your username and password from previous years to register and create a new team named as your old team. If you have any questions or difficulties registering your team, please contact us using the live chat on the Relay for Life website or at connect@cancer.ca or 1-888-939-3333.

Do I need to have 10 members to form a team?

No. You can have as many or as few members as you would like to form a team.

Can I register my team the day of the event?

Yes. Teams can register at any time, including on the day of Relay For Life.

What is a multi-site team?

Multi-site teams are teams that are registered in two (2) or more locations. Multi-site teams must also register in one of the two categories (Corporate or Friends & Family). Click here to find out more information on multi-site teams.

If I donate to my team, will I receive a tax receipt?

Yes, any online donation made to Relay For Life is tax receiptable. For offline donations of $20 or more, receipts will be issued automatically. Tax receipts for offline donations of less than $20 must be requested on the form.

What happens if my donor incorrectly donates to my team?

If a donor mistakenly donates to your team and would like to transfer the donation to an individual participant, the donor must contact our Donor Care department by August 31, 2025. After this date, team donations are non-transferable.

Relay For Life Donor Care
Tel.: 1-888-939-3333
E-mail: connect@cancer.ca
Hours of Operation: Monday — Friday from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm EST.

What is a Participant of Hope?

When registering, participants can choose to identify themselves as a Participant of Hope. A Participant of Hope is someone living with cancer, a cancer survivor, or carrying a genetic risk for the disease.

If you disclose a cancer diagnosis or genetic risk when you register, we will only use this information to provide to you a Participant of Hope t-shirt and to send you tailored communications.

Why did you change the term survivor to Participant of Hope?

It’s a term that conveys inclusiveness.

Cancer can affect our lives in countless ways. Are you living with cancer, a cancer survivor, or carrying a genetic risk for the disease? Let us honour you as a Participant of Hope at Relay For Life.

Will Participants of Hope receive yellow t-shirts?

We are excited to offer a t-shirt to all Relay For Life participants. General participants will receive a white t-shirt whereas Participants of Hope will receive a yellow t-shirt.

What is the Lap of Hope?

The Lap of Hope is our new name for the Survivors’ Victory Lap. All Participants of Hope are invited to participate in our Lap of Hope at Relay For Life.

What is the Hope Lounge?

The Hope Lounge is our new name for the Survivors’ Tent. During an in-person event, all Participants of Hope are invited to our Hope Lounge, which includes a personalized welcome and activities specifically designed for them. Check out your Relay event page for details specific to your event and a link to your event’s Facebook page.

What is a luminary?

Whether you Relay for a family member, a friend, or a colleague, luminaries are a powerful symbol that our loved ones are always in our hearts. They bring light, inspiration and hope to Relay For Life participants.

At Relay For Life, luminaries are candles that are placed in special bags that bear the names of loved ones who have been impacted by cancer. These luminaries allow us to remember those we’ve lost to cancer and honour people living with cancer, cancer survivors, and those who carry a genetic risk to the disease. Participants and supporters often personalize their luminaries with meaningful messages and pictures.

Visit our luminary page to find out more and purchase a luminary online, if you wish.

What is the Luminary Ceremony?

Experience the magic and emotion of Relay For Life by participating in our Luminary Ceremony. The Luminary Ceremony is a time for quiet reflection and allows us to celebrate, remember and honour those we love - every step of the way.

At in-person events, luminaries line and light up the track with names, pictures, and meaningful messages.

What is Relay My Way?

Relay My Way is an experience reimagined in a select number of locations where a unique in-person gathering is being planned by local volunteers.

Click on a location event to learn about the experience you can expect. Find your community event here and register for Relay For Life 2025. Can’t find your community event ? Scroll down to look our Relay My Way section and find out an event near your location.

Can’t find your community event or your location under Relay My Way? You can still register and fundraise for Relay For Life and celebrate with friends and family at home or in your neighborhood.

On event day, why not walk your dog, go for a bike ride, do yoga or even stay home and make a big dinner for your loved ones? Whatever your passion may be, you can recruit friends and family to join you in supporting the cause and making a difference. You will be eligible for tax receipts and fundraising rewards. You will also have access to fundraising tools.

What is my Fundraising Centre?

Your fundraising centre contains customizable tools for emailing friends and family, tracking online donations, team status, and much, much more.

What is my Personal Fundraising Page?

Your Fundraising Page is an online page that highlights your fundraising efforts. Participants can customize content and images on their fundraising page from the fundraising centre.

Will my Fundraising Page have last year’s content?

For all returning participants, you may notice the personal story section of your profile has been replaced with default text. This is a result of some Relay For Life sites merging over the past 2 years. If you would like us to transfer your original message to the new system, we will be happy to assist you.

If you are a returning Relay For Life participant who has signed up for Relay My Way or a different event location, you will need to manually update your personal story and picture if you choose to. If you have any questions, please contact us by using the live chat on the Relay For Life website or at connect@cancer.ca or 1-888-939-3333.

Will the current Fundraising Centre have my past donors’ information and email addresses?

Yes. If you registered as a returning participant with your previous username, all your donor information will be available under the email contact section of your Fundraising Centre.

I am getting bounce backs when emailing from my Fundraising Centre. Why is this happening?

If you are manually entering email addresses to your contact list, please do not separate the addresses using a colon (;). Kindly use a semicolon (;) to separate the addresses.

If the issue persists, please contact Donor Care at connect@cancer.ca or 1-888-939-3333.

My friends and family are not receiving the emails sent from my Fundraising Centre. Why is this happening?

If your friends and family are not receiving emails sent from your Fundraising Centre, it is because they have opted out of receiving emails from the Canadian Cancer Society or Relay For Life. Consider sending the email from your own email client from within your Fundraising Centre instead.

If I import my donor information online, will the Canadian Cancer Society be able to contact these people?

No. Your privacy is important to the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) and therefore, staff and volunteers cannot view or access your online information. Your information is confidential and is only accessible by entering your username and password, to which CCS does not have access. For more information about our privacy practices, visit cancer.ca/privacy. 

What do I do with cash and cheque donations that I have received?

Participants may deposit their Relay donations directly at the selected banking centre for their Relay site.

In-person/offline donations (donations not paid online) will be officially counted as part of your fundraising when the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) has received your donation forms and proof of deposit.

You can download customized donation forms from your Relay For Life site page.

Cash and cheque donations must be deposited at a CCS approved banking centre. Details on which banking centre to use for your Relay site, as well as instructions on what to do with your donations and forms, are outlined on the forms you will download from your Relay site page.

Participants who choose to register offline must submit their completed participant form to the Gift Processing Department for their donations to be added to their fundraising totals and their team’s if applicable.

Always ensure that the total deposited is equal to the total donation amounts listed on your donation forms. After depositing your donations, DO NOT leave your form(s) at the banking centre. Please make copies of your forms and proof of deposit (where applicable) for your records and mail them to connect@cancer.ca.

Do not mail cash.

NOTE: Remember, your forms and proof of deposit are needed for tax receipting for your donors, and for the Rewards program, if opted in. DO NOT leave your forms at the bank and please make copies of your forms for your records before mailing them.

If you are unable to visit a banking location, you can mail your completed donation form(s) and donations (cheques only, do not send cash in the mail) to the address.

ATTN: Gift Processing Department
Canadian Cancer Society
55 St Clair Avenue West, Suite 300
Toronto, ON
M4V 2Y7

Processing times vary, but please allow a minimum of 3 weeks from receipt of the form at Canadian Cancer Society, to offline fundraising being reflected in your totals online.

What do I do with my credit card donations?

Credit card donations can be processed online or by calling Donor Care at 1-888-939-3333. Please ensure that you are registered online before calling Donor Care to process a credit card donation.

Can I take my credit card donations to a banking centre for processing?

No, banking locations do not process credit card donations.

How long will it take before my donations are posted to my account?

Online donations will be reflected automatically once a donation is complete.

Offline donations made through a Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) approved banking centre are processed once the donation forms and proof of deposit are received by CCS and take a minimum of 3 weeks. You must retain your form(s) and proof of deposit from the banking centre and make copies for you.

You need to e-mail your forms and proof of deposit to connect@cancer.ca.

Do not mail cash.

Can I donate if I’m not participating in Relay For Life?

Absolutely. Donate online or at a Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) approved banking centre across Canada. To donate at a CCS approved banking location, record your name, address, and donation amount on a donation form. The banking centre will accept your donation and a teller will either stamp the form or provide you with a deposit receipt, then return it to you (note: banks do not accept donations by credit card). To get a tax receipt, please e-mail donation form and proof of deposit to connect@cancer.ca.

Do not mail cash.

Does the Canadian Cancer Society accept corporate matching donations?

Yes. For more information on corporate donations and to find our corporate matching form, please visit our Corporate Engagement Page.

How do I donate through Benevity?

Benevity is a corporate social responsibility and employee engagement software that provides employees with a platform to donate to causes they care about, such as Relay For Life.

Please use the Benevity instructions to donate to Relay For Life. You can select the amount of information that you would like shared with the Canadian Cancer Society. If you do not share this information, your donation will remain anonymous.

IMPORTANT: Donations made through Benevity will not be designated to a specific participant’s fundraising page on the website.

What are the fundraising rewards levels?

All participants in Relay For Life are eligible for the fundraising rewards program.

Relay My Way participants are eligibles only if their event is held in june.

How will participants be notified that they’re eligible for Fundraising Rewards Program?

We will use the information from the registration completion to issue rewards and participants will receive an email as they reach each milestone to notify them. All offline participants will receive rewards they qualify for.

Donation forms, either bank stamped dated up to Saturday, June 7 or 14, 2025, or with applicable deposit receipt dated up to June 14, 2025, must arrive at Canadian Cancer Society no later than June 28 to be counted towards the Fundraising Rewards program. This is to account for the time needed to enter offline donations into participants’ Fundraising Centres. Donation forms, either bank stamped with applicable deposit receipt, can be received via e-mail or scanned to connect@cancer.ca.

Please do not mail cash.

Is my fundraising reward level transferable?

No. The fundraising reward level reached individually cannot be transferred to another participant.

Does my team’s fundraising total count towards the fundraising rewards program?

No. Team fundraising totals are NOT eligible for Fundraising Rewards Program, and they do not count towards an individual’s fundraising total.

When will donations be counted for fundraising rewards?

All donations for rewards must be deposited by 10:00 p.m. PST on June 14, 2025.

*For offline funds to be counted towards these fundraising rewards, the funds must be showing online by the deadlines outlined here.

Donation forms, bank stamped with deposit receipts can be sent to the Canadian Cancer Society via email to connect@cancer.ca.Processing times vary, but please allow a minimum of 3 weeks from receipt of the form at CCS, to offline fundraising being reflected in your totals online.

How long will it take for my offline donation to be added?

All offline donations will be completed by October 2025.

When will the Canadian Cancer Society send out tax receipts for Relay For Life donations?

If you donate online to a team, yourself, or another participant, you will receive an electronic tax receipt within 24 hours. Connect@cancer.ca is the sender of the tax receipt. Consult your inbox and junk inbox to find it. The Canadian Cancer Society will begin issuing tax receipts for offline donations following Relay For Life. They will be distributed by the end of October of the event year.

I have lost my original tax receipt and require a duplicate. What do I do?

Please contact Donor Care at or phone 1-888-939-3333. Give as much details as possible to help us find your donation.

I did not receive my tax receipt?

Consult your junk email inbox or look in your inbox for an email sent by connect@cancer.ca. If you don’t find it, please contact Donor Care at connect@cancer.ca or phone 1-888-939-3333. Give as much details as possible to help us find your donation.

How do I become a volunteer?

Please click here for more information on how to become a Relay For Life volunteer.

Do I need to have experience volunteering with Relay For Life?

No, you do not require previous volunteer experience. However, it is recommended that people in leadership roles are familiar with Relay For Life.

Is there a minimum commitment of hours required to volunteer with Relay For Life?

Each volunteer role has differing time requirements based on the role and responsibilities. Committee roles have a longer time commitment and may vary. Details are provided in the role description.

Does volunteering for Relay For Life qualify for high school community service hours?

Yes. If you need confirmation of volunteer hours, please reach out to volunteer@cancer.ca after the event.

How old do you have to be to volunteer?

Volunteers must be 14 years and older to volunteer for the Canadian Cancer Society. There are some positions with further age restrictions (19 or over) and this will be made clear in the position description. If you are under the age of 18, please obtain parental or legal guardian consent before completing the online application. Your parent or guardian must be present to electronically consent to the terms and conditions.

I have forgotten my username and password. What do I do?

Click here to recover your username or password. Don’t create a second profile.