Team Participation Jumps Nearly 50% at Relay For Life 2026, Signalling Strong Community Spirit in Record-Breaking Year

15 March 2026

Organised by Singapore Cancer Society (SCS), Relay For Life 2026 drew a record 6,479 participants, with team and youth sign-ups driving the majority of the growth that highlights strong show of cross generational cancer support.

Now in its tenth edition, the Singapore Cancer Society–Tamarind Health Relay For Life (RFL) 2026 saw its strongest collective showing to date, with team sign-ups rising to 6,019 this year, reflecting strong community mobilisation in support of the cancer cause.

The 15-hour overnight relay raised over S$1,360,000 for cancer support services, with more than 40% of participants aged 35 and below, reflecting growing youth engagement in the fight against cancer, particularly among student teams.

Speaker of Parliament Mr Seah Kian Peng attended the annual relay as Guest of Honour (GOH) on 14 March, flagging off the signature Survivor Lap and the 100km Challenge at the start of the overnight relay. Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth & Senior Minister of State for Education Mr David Neo attended as Guest of Honour (GOH) on 15 March, participating in the Fight Back segment, joining cancer patients, survivors and caregivers in the final three laps of the relay. Senior Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Mr Desmond Tan graced the event, joining participants in honouring the various stages of the cancer journey.

Of the 6,479 participants this year, the overwhelming majority chose to register as part of a team rather than individually, signalling a clear preference for collective action. The 313 teams spanned corporate organisations, healthcare institutions, informal community networks and established SCS survivor support groups, including Bishana Ladies, Reach to Recovery and Walnut Warriors, with organisations and communities increasingly choosing to rally together, underscoring a broader shift towards organised, community-based mobilisation in the fight against cancer.

Student participation also grew strongly at this year’s relay, more than doubling from 75 participants in 2025 to 168 participants in 2026. Youth involvement extended to on-ground activation with Project Lavande, a youth-led fundraising team, curating a two-hour programme segment during the event that reflected the cancer journey and aligned with SCS’s continuum-of-care approach. Sustained engagement from schools was also evident. Northbrooks Secondary School’s Running Interest Group marked its eighth consecutive year of involvement, led by teacher Mr Sanjay Radakrishna, who has supported RFL for nine years.

Cancer as an Enduring Societal Challenge
Data from the latest Singapore Cancer Registry Annual Report 2023 highlights that one in four Singapore residents is expected to develop cancer in their lifetime. While cancer incidence will continue to increase, five-year survival rates have improved significantly. In this context, cancer has become an enduring societal challenge that extends beyond medical treatment alone, requiring sustained and coordinated community support to enable those affected to continue participating fully in work, education and community life.

“Singapore’s evolving cancer landscape and the needs of our cancer community require a whole of Singapore and society effort,” said Mr Tan Kwang Cheak, Chief Executive Officer of Singapore Cancer Society. “As cancer incidence continues to increase and cancer survival rates improve, support must extend from when individuals are well through to treatment and survivorship to end-of-life care.”

He added, “SCS leads efforts to bring together healthcare partners, corporates, community partners, youth groups and survivor networks to rally support and strengthen care across that continuum in Singapore. Relay For Life demonstrates how Singapore comes together to support our cancer community through participation, partnerships and volunteer networks. This community spirit exemplifies our “We First” society in Singapore and how we can collectively build a supportive, caring and cohesive community for our cancer patients, families and caregivers.”

Beyond the stadium, the My Fight Back virtual challenge, which allows individuals to participate beyond running the relay, continues through 31 March, with partner-led fitness and activity sessions sustaining engagement and fundraising efforts across participants’ networks. Members of the public may support Singapore Cancer Society’s cancer support services by making a contribution at www.scsrelayforlife.sg/donate.