Relay For Life Celebrate National Cancer Survivors Month

Last month, the Santa Clarita chapter of the American Cancer Society hosted its largest fundraising event, Relay For Life, with the goal of raising $375,000 to fund cancer research and patient support programs. This month, we celebrate National Cancer Survivors Month which honors the more than 18 million cancer survivors in the U.S. and millions more worldwide.
On Sunday, June 7, 2026 – as part of the 39th annual National Cancer Survivors Day® – people around the world will come together to honor cancer survivors, celebrate life, and draw attention to the ongoing challenges these survivors face because of their disease.
Although cancer is a global public health problem, Cancer Survivors Month is an opportunity to recognize the strength and resilience of survivors, provide resources to aid recovery, and highlight the importance of continued research and care.
According to American Cancer Society researchers, in the mid-1970s, the 5-year cancer survival rate was 50%. Now it is 70%, meaning that 7 in 10 people diagnosed with cancer are expected to celebrate their 5-year diagnosis anniversary. As of January 1, 2025, about 1 out of every 18 Americans (18.6 million people) was a cancer survivor. By 2035, that number is projected to exceed 22 million.
According to Rebecca L. Siegel, Scientific Director of Surveillance Information at the American Cancer Society, “The success in declining death rate is due to a combination of cancer prevention strategies including vaccinations; education programs about healthy eating, exercising, and not smoking; improvements in screening and early detection; and advances in cancer treatment.”
The American Cancer Society has helped make possible almost every major cancer breakthrough since 1946. Since then, ACS has invested more than $5 billion in cancer research, making it the largest nonprofit funder of cancer research in the United States, outside of the federal government.
Please join ACS in celebrating the work being done to improve the lives of all survivors and their caregivers. Support efforts to end cancer as we know it, for everyone, by donating to www.SCVRelay.org and shopping at the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop in Santa Clarita.
For further information about cancer survivorship, visit cancer.org/survivors. To learn more about donating to and supporting local Relay events visit scvrelay.org.