More than 1,000 Georgia Tech students, faculty and staff will help raise money for the American Cancer Society by running in a 12-hour, overnight relay race beginning on Saturday, March 29, 2003 at 7 p.m. and ending on Sunday, March 30 at 7 a.m.. The race will take place at the Student Athletic Center fields on Ferst Drive and Sixth St. on the Tech campus.

More than 90 teams will compete in this year's relay event, with a fundraising goal of $110,000. Last year, Tech raised more than $55,000 in its first Relay for Life event.

In 1985, Dr. Gordy Klatt walked, jogged and ran around a track in Tacoma, Washington for 24-hours, raising $27,000 to support the American Cancer Society. The following year, 220 supporters on 19 teams joined Dr. Klatt in this overnight event, and the American Cancer Society Relay for Life was born. This year, there are 3,803 relays planned across the United States, with 140 events planned on college campuses.

Did you know?

· 1,284,900 individuals were diagnosed with cancer in 2002.
· 555,500 individuals died due to cancer in 2002.
· Today nearly 9 million Americans are cancer survivors.
· The American Cancer Society has funded nearly $2.5 billion in research.

For information on the day of the event, contact David Prophitt, 404-483-3283.