100 Ideas for Activities at a Relay For
Life Event
1. Fear Factor
Do you enjoy testing your limits? In this stomach turning challenge, your team will dig through Jell-O
in search of candy fish, crawl through obstacle courses, and roll the dice to see what interesting
concoction you will race to consume – and much more. So come hungry and be ready to face your
fears!
2. Ovarian Egg Hunt
Go on an Easter egg hunt throughout the Relay venue to find ovarian cancer facts and fun prizes.
3. Bra Decorating Contest
Bring a decorated bra (try something within your Relay theme) to the event. You can select judges
from your survivors or teams to pick the best bra overall and a bra that matches the theme. A
variation: have donated bras with various decoration supplies and have individuals decorate them
on site to be judged.
4. Treasure Hunt
Gather your teammates for a fun scavenger hunt throughout the Relay event. Start with the first
clue at the main stage and use your team’s navigation instincts to find the rest of the clues!
5. Photo Scavenger Hunt
Teams are given a list of items and using their own cell phone cameras, teams work to find all the
items on the list. The fastest team with the most items will win.
6. Find the Cures Hunt
Ask your Relay participants what is it going to take to find cures to cancer? Have clues that take
participants all over the area. Try to send them to places you want them to visit such as the mission
tent, survivor tent, fundraising tent, etc. Give clues like: To find cures, we need money; we need
everyone to make cancer a priority; we need research; we need determination; we need passion;
etc.
7. Scavenger Hunt
Create a list of objects to find. First team back with all of the items wins!
Scavenger
Hunt.docx
8. Relay Trivia
Answer questions about the American Cancer Society and the Relay For Life program! A list of
example questions is embedded below.
Relay Trivial
Pursuit.docx
9. General Trivia
Dust off the box of Trivial Pursuit or go to funtrivia.com or triviacafe.com and get teams involved in
some fun trivia. Host it late at night to get everyone’s minds sharp and ready for more fun.
10. Dress Up Relay Contest
Teams participate in this progressive dress-up activity and walk the track. One walker from each
participating team will line up at the start line. At various points of the track, boxes with a variety of
clothing are placed and a teammate will be waiting to add a piece of clothing to the walker at each
stop. No running is allowed and you can award a winner based on who crosses the finish line first
and who has the craziest outfit!
11. Colon Crawl
Using cardboard boxes fastened together or large piece of drain tubing. Decorate the inside with
cancer facts and “polyps” for people to find.
12. Pop the Polyp Lap
Blow up red balloons. Tie string to red balloon. Relay participants then tie the balloon to their
ankles. On “go” participants try to pop the “polyp”. Mission message: Getting rid of polyps can save
lives!
13. Best Friend Trivia
The newlyweds game with a twist! You and one of your “mates” will go back and forth answering
questions about each other. If your answer matches your mate’s answer, you score a point! The
team with the most points wins.
14. Bubble Gum Blowing Contest
Show off your lung power in a bubble gum blowing contest during a lung cancer awareness activity.
15. Road To Recovery® Car Contest
Build a Road To Recovery car to represent your team (can use the theme) out of cardboard or any
other materials you can find. Cars will be paraded across the main stage and judged by survivors or
participants. You can allow teams to build their cars before the event or you can bring the supplies
to build everything at the event.
16. Road To Recovery® Wagon Decorating Contest and Parade
Bring your little red wagon or your stroller and show your support of the American Cancer Society
Road To Recovery program. Decorated wagons can be judged for a donation. The wagon that raises
the most money is the winner. All cars then find a volunteer to “drive” and pick up their passenger
and take them to their treatment center. The emcee can say the following: “We interrupt this Relay
event to bring you an important announcement from your American Cancer Society” and interject a
quick blurb about Road To Recovery. DJ plays an appropriate driving or support song such as “Lean
on Me” (upbeat version), CARS song, etc. Winner is announced at the end of the lap.
17. Crab Crossing
Yes, the crabwalk from elementary school is making a comeback! Your crabbiest teammate will
crawl with goldfish on their belly. But watch out! If you lose a goldfish, you lose points. This game
can also be done as a fun Relay race by handing over the goldfish to the next participant.
18. Thank a Survivor (get your picture taken with a Relay celebrity)
Survivors are our beacons of hope in the fight against cancer! Let’s show our gratitude to them for
participating in Relay For Life. Designate a time at your event for people to show their appreciation
to survivors. A fun twist is to ask participants to ask permission to get their picture taken with the
survivor and see who can get their picture taken with the most survivors.
19. Goiter Pass
A thyroid not functioning properly can sometimes lead to a goiter, a spherical mass in the throat
area. This thyroid cancer awareness activity needs some teamwork as you pass a grapefruit to the
next person in line by holding it between your chin and your chest.
20. Tug O’ War
We all know this game, but come a test your physical strength as you try to defeat other teams
toward a victory!
21. Four Square
A good ole’ fashion game of four-square with your Relay teammates!
22. Root Beer Pong
Is your hand-eye coordination up to par enough to handle this tournament? Many people from
many teams will compete while tossing little ping pong balls into cups for the title of Root Beer Pong
Champ. Be ready – this game is more difficult than it seems!
23. Whose Line is it Anyway?
We all have seen this hilarious show with actors like Wayne Brady and Ryan Stiles, but how would
you like to see some live stand-up comedy? With events like the prop game and the dating game, it
will be an event full of side-splitting possible dates to choose from, as well as watching people have
a lot of fun while acting with hula-hoops and traffic cones. But remember; bring your wild side
because you may need your dancing shoes or your singing voice to entertain the best laughs and to
receive the high score!
24. Decorate Door Hangers
Using some creativity and decorating supplies, participants can create fun door hangers with notes
of encouragement. Following the Relay event, these door hangers will be delivered to a local
hospital or children’s hospital to spruce up their doors.
25. Simon Says (American Cancer Society Says)
You and your teammates will use your “Simon Says” skills to obey commands. Use basic commands
or make people do the silliest things you can imagine. It will be fun to participate in or watch! You
can put an American Cancer Society spin on this popular favorite and say “the American Cancer
Society says: eat your vegetables”; “the American Cancer Society says: be active”; “the American
Cancer Society says: don’t smoke”; “the American Cancer Society says: get age appropriate
screenings”; etc.
26. Obstacle Course Competition
Bring your most athletic competitor to take a run through a Relay obstacle course. Weave through
chairs, crawl under banners, stack boxes of candles, or any other challenges you can think of. Each
team will have the chance to run, weave, crawl, and jump for the fastest time.
27. Hula Hoop Contest
It’s getting late (or early), so what better reason is there to swing those hips? Your best hip-swinging
team member will work to keep the hula hoop in motion for as long as they can. The person who
can keep that hoop moving the longest wins.
28. Frisbee Golf
If you have enough room at your venue, create a small Frisbee golf course. A variant of this game is
to place targets out in an open area and see which participants can get closest to or hit the targets.
29. Ultimate Frisbee
The aim of the game is to get the Frisbee into your opponents’ end zone much like in American
Football, you have seven players on each team. It is non-contact and you can’t run with the Frisbee.
30. Find Your Sole Mate
Take 10 pairs of shoes and set one shoe at different campsites around the track. Do not hide them;
just leave them on the table out front. On a master list, put the location of both the shoes to verify
that the fastest person with the most matches written down also has the correct sites. The game
can have either a time limit of 10-15 minutes that the DJ can announce or the first person with all
the matches can be the winner.
31. T-shirt Contests
Frozen - Freeze several T-shirts ahead of time and contestants compete to see who can pull the shirt
apart first and put it on first. No water or heat is allowed to thaw the shirt quicker!
Water – Use six infant-size T-shirts and a pail of water on one end; on the other end have six-12
ounce plastic cups. Six contestants soak the T-shirt in the pail of water and run a distance of 20 feet
(or longer) to fill the plastic cup. The person that fills the cup first wins. The challenge is to fill the
cup without turning it over.
32. Toilet Toss
Use the purple toilet many events use for this kids’ game. Kids start at a base distance, say six feet,
and they toss toilet paper rolls into the toilet moving further back each time until they miss or until
time runs out.
33. Jail and Bail
Create a jailhouse at the Relay event. “Relay police” can arrest people or allow people donate to
create a warrant for another person’s arrest. Donations accepted to get out of jail and donations
accepted to prevent you from going to jail!
34. Corn Hole
It’s a very popular and competitive game. Ask for teams to bring their boards and bean bags to the
event for a fun tournament.
35. Relay Idol/Relay’s Got Talent
Showcase your local talent on the main stage at your event.
36. Midnight Movie
Get a large screen and projector and show a fun family-friendly movie the night of the Relay event.
Add in popcorn and you have a great fundraiser. A white sheet or white tarp hung from the side of a
tent or the goalposts makes a great big screen.
37. Which Way Are We Headed?
A team consists of two sets of three participants. Each group of three will have their legs connected
(like three-legged race but this will be a four-legged race). The outside players will be blindfolded. The middle person will serve as the leader and will have to lead their team to a turn around
and return to allow the next group of three to do the same.
38. Cheese Ball Toss
Two contestants on each team; one with their head covered in shaving or whipped cream while
their partner has two minutes to toss cheese balls to stick to cream. The team with the most cheese
balls wins.
39. Water Balloon Toss
Teams of two people toss a water balloon. After each successful toss, the distance increases. The
last team to successfully toss their balloon without breaking wins.
40. Frisbee Discus
Discus is an individual competition to see who can throw a Frisbee the furthest on the field. Make
sure you have enough room!
41. Bag Race (Luminaria Race)
A team of six is needed for the bag race. The first player will begin with a ping pong ball on a spoon
placed in one hand. They will race to the other end of the field/court where they will pick up a
luminaria bag with a letter written on it. Once five team members have brought back five bags, the
sixth team member will unscramble the letters on the bag to spell out a special word G-O-R-D-Y. This game can be customized for larger teams and spelling of different words.
42. Trashing Cancer
Teams of equal numbers line up single-file along a start line. You will position a finish line
approximately 20 yards behind the start line. The game starts with the first person in each line
receiving a bag of trash. The first person on each team passes the bag of trash through their legs to
the next one in line. After they have passed the trash they move to the end of the line. Once the
bag of trash has passed the finish line, the person holding the bag runs to cross the start line,
winning the game for their team.
43. Have Your Fruits and Eat Them Too
A team of six will be set up in the middle of the court/field. One team member will head to a
designated fruit spot. That person will return to the center and put the first of the fruits in
basket/bucket. Then the next player will head out to get a different fruit. Once they have collected
all four fruits they will head to a table where another two team members will be waiting to eat two
watermelon wedges each.
44. Relay Workout
A great team builder and a great workout too! The game is played with five players on each team.
The first will begin by performing five jumping jacks then skipping to the other where they tag the
second player. They will do give push-ups then hop on one leg to the other end and tag the third
player. They will do five sit-ups and then walk backwards to the other end and tag the fourth and
fifth players. These players will pass a ball between them until the cross the finish line. If you want a
great workout, have the teams rotate through positions and play several times.
45. Stomp Out Cancer
On slips of paper write questions pertaining to prevention/detection of cancer, keeping it simple.
Put the small slips of paper in balloons, and then blow up the balloons. Ask participants to select a
balloon, then “stomp” it to pop it. Read the question inside, and give a small prize for a correct
answer.
46. Potato Golf
Be prepared to laugh and enjoy this game in front of a crowd. You will need one pair of hosiery and
two potatoes per person. To set up the game place one potato in the foot of each pair of hose. Tie
one pair of hose around each participant’s waist to where the potato is hanging in front of them
ending a few inches above the ground. A second potato is then placed on the ground in front of each
participant. To play, each participant will use only their hips (no hands or feet) to swing the
hosiery/potato forward and backward hitting the second potato to move it forward. The winner is
determined by the first one to get the second potato across the finish line (which is about 10-15 feet
away from the starting line). If you have a lot of participants, it can also be set up as a relay-style
race between two or more participants.
47. DIY Dresses
Using only duct-tape, newspaper, and scissors (or it can be done without scissors, too) each team
designs and makes a ball gown. Hold a fashion show with the best design as the winner!
48. Musical Chairs
Each team identifies four team members (or whatever you decide, but the more the merrier). It’s
just regular musical chairs, but with a huge amount of people. Sometimes chairs are hard to come by
at a Relay event, so you can improvise with hula hoops, carpet squares, placemats, or any place
marker you can step on.
49. Human Foosball
Have participants line up an arm’s length apart, hold arms out, and clasp wrist of player beside
them. Make as many rows as players, divide in half, and turn halves around to face one another.
Someone rolls the rubber kickball in, and players can only use feet and the whole line must move
side to side like in the foosball table game.
50. Relay Scrabble
Make letters on index cards, and pass them out to walkers as they make laps on the track. Each time
they pass by they draw another card. After all the cards are gone or after a set number of laps have
taken place, walkers (or teams) who make the longest word win.
51. Flamingo Ring Toss
Set up pink plastic flamingoes at different distances and toss hula hoops over them for points. The
longest distance flamingos award the most points. The individual or team with the most points wins.
52. Beach Ball Relay Race
Teams of four participants are spaced around the track. The first person places a beach ball (or other
ball) between their knees and waddles around the track. When they reach the next person on their
team they pass the ball off. The first team to complete a lap wins.
53. Bucket Race
Contestants in the race are given a cup of water and have to run a lap of the track. At the end of the
lap they empty the cup into a small pail. Team members take turns running/walking the track until
their pail is full. The first team to fill their container wins.
54. Telephone Relay Race
Teams of four participants are spaced around the track. The first participant is given an American
Cancer Society or Relay-related message. They must run/walk to the next participant and relay the
message, which is then passed on to the next team member. The first team to complete the lap with
the correct or most accurate message wins.
55. Three-legged Race
Teams of two have are tied together at the ankle and need to work together to walk the track the
fastest.
56. Dance Off
Individuals will compete against each other in doing their best dance moves to music over the
decades. Choose judges from survivors, caregivers, or use crowd noise to pick the winner.
57. Look Good Feel Better® Makeover
Get a makeover from your teammate, with a twist. One player will receive a makeover with makeup
from their blindfolded teammate. The team with the best (or worst) makeover wins.
58. Minute to Win It
Here is your chance to prove your skills in a variety of Minute to Win It games. There are number of
ways to play the game. Do a Google search “Minute to Win It” to find lots of ideas.
59. Red Light, Green Light
This classic children’s game has participants have to make their way to “it”. “It” calls green light and
participants are able to move as quickly as possible towards “it”. However, once “it” calls red light
everyone must immediately stop, otherwise they are eliminated.
60. Air Guitar Competition
Hate that the 80s are over? They won’t be Relay night! Start shining up that air guitar of yours and
be prepared to rock out and beat the competition. This could be judged by guest survivors or cheers
from the crowd.
61. Balloon Pop
Represent your team in this game where everyone participating has a balloon tied loosely to one of
their ankles and you have to pop the other team’s balloons before yours is popped.
62. Eating Competition
This is not your typical eating completion! Teams of two compete to see who can feed the other
more food. A pie plate with whipped cream or a variety of messy foods works very well for this
game. The catch is that one is blindfolded. The competition goes for 30 seconds, at which time the
teammates switch blindfolds and continues for another 30 seconds. The winning team is determined
by who has successfully eaten the most.
63. LCR Game and Fundraiser - Traditional Left, Center, Right (LCR)
Here is the link to learn how to play: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LCR_(dice_game). Check with the
small games of chance laws in your community before choosing this fundraiser. The person who
wins gives the funds to the Relay event and is applied to that individual’s team.
64. Rock, Paper, Scissors (or the American Cancer Society’s spin … Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back)
Two teams line up facing each other. The more people the more fun! Each team huddles up and
secretly picks either rock, paper, or scissors. Once the two teams pick they meet each other at the
neutral line. Everyone at the same time yells out rock, paper, or scissors (making the hand signs for
rock, paper, and scissors) and the last thing the team yells is what their team chose. For example:
One team picked rock and the other picked paper. Once the teams know what the other team
picked the paper team would chase the rock (because paper covers rock) to the predetermined line.
If a “rock” gets tagged, then that person is NOT out but joins the other team (the team that was
paper). Play continues until one team has everyone on their team. You can change it up to yell
celebrate, remember or fight back. For example: Celebrate chases fight back; remember chases
celebrate; fight back chases remember.
65. Family (Dorm, Frat) Feud
This one is really fun to play and watch! You can have families enter for a donation. A good emcee is
important as it should be someone that likes to be in front of a large crowd. Winning family/families
get a prize, certificate, etc. Here is a link on how to set up a Family Feud game:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2312412_play-family-feud-game.html.
66. Plastic Cup Messaging on Fence
Each team brings plastic cups and writes a word that is significant to the Relay experience such as:
cures, hope, finish the fight, fight back, etc.
67. Team Sport Competitions for the Athlete and Non-Athlete
Volleyball, kickball, badminton, basketball tournament, whiffle ball, sling shot contest, blind
volleyball, video games on a big screen, etc. Choose sports competitions where you don’t have to be
athletic to win.
68. Giant Matching Game
Make a very large matching game using American Cancer Society and Relay For Life program
symbols such as the logo; finish the fight; the slogan “Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back”; picture of a
healthy food such as a piece of fruit of a vegetable; cigarette with a slash through it; etc. Teams get
on stage and look down at the game. The team with the most matches wins. This is a good way to
reinforce the prevention and early detection messages!
69. Lip-sync Competition
Have teams compete doing their best imitation of their favorite singer, rock star, etc. Relay
participants vote on the best lip-syncer. Winner is the individual that raises the most money votes.
Tip: search for Jimmy Fallon lip-syncing on YouTube for inspiration!
70. Express Yourself!
Create cards or artwork that expresses you. Have a place where artwork can be displayed. Partner
with a local art studio or art teacher and perhaps have a theme. What does a cancer-free world look
like to you?
71. Over, Under Contest
Line up in as many teams as you have. Make sure lines are even. On “go” each team member
alternates sending a ball over the head then under the legs. First team down and sitting wins!
72. Relay Boot Camp Fight Back Chant
Fight Back Drill/Chant
Drill Sergeant:
One in three will hear the words
Platoon:
One in three will hear the words
Drill Sergeant:
You’ve got cancer…
Platoon: …Find the cures!
Drill Sergeant: You’ve got cancer…
Platoon:
…Find the cures!
Drill Sergeant:
Will you take the pledge with me?
Platoon:
Will you take the pledge with me?
Drill Sergeant: To make cancer history
Platoon:
To make cancer history
Drill Sergeant: Fight back!
Platoon:
Fight back!
Drill Sergeant: Fight back!
Platoon:
Fight back!
Optional: Platoon members will individually sound off and state their pledge to fight back. For
example: stop smoking, promote Relay For Life movement, exercise and eat healthy, etc. Once
everyone has taken a turn, finish the drill.
Drill Sergeant:
Platoon:
One-eight-hundred ACS…
One-eight-hundred ACS…
Drill Sergeant:
Platoon:
…Two, three, four, five, that's the rest!
…Two, three, four, five, that's the rest!
Drill Sergeant:
Platoon:
One-eight-hundred ACS…
One-eight-hundred ACS…
Drill Sergeant:
Platoon:
Two, three, four, five, that's the rest!
Two, three, four, five, that's the rest!
73. Power of Purple Lap
Celebrate cancer survivorship and the reason why we participate in Relay events by dressing up in
purple. Have fun by wearing purple glasses, wigs, shoes/socks, jewelry, etc. to
74. Three-legged Lap
Two people stand side by side with their “middle” legs tied together. If you do this with strangers,
it’s a great way to make a new friend.
75. Slip! Slop! Slap!®and Wrap! Lap
Slip on a shirt. Slop on sunscreen. Slap on a hat. And wrap on sunglasses. Promote sun safety and
have fun doing it!
76. Five-a-day Lap
Ask a grocery store or farm stand to donate a variety of fruits and veggies for people to try. This is a
yummy way to get your kids to eat healthy. Try fruit smoothies or vegetable kabobs.
77. Tell a Friend
Call someone who is not at the Relay event and has never experienced what it’s all about. Encourage
them to come down.
78. Backwards Lap
Walk backwards or go in reverse direction.
79. My Reason Lap
Ask participants to write down their reason(s) for participating in the Relay event on a piece of
paper. Have them walk around the track with their note to share with others. Bystanders will be
moved by all of the reasons to support the American Cancer Society.
80. Meet a New Friend Lap
Meet one or two new people you don’t know and invite them to take a lap with you. The first thing
you have in common – you’re in it to finish the fight!
81. Limbo Lap
How low can you go? A broom stick will suffice to see who can win this competition.
82. Company-sponsored Laps
Ask local businesses to sponsor one or more laps and give something away to participants. For
example, they may give a pen with company name on it, food samples from a company, etc. This is a
great way to get new or potential event sponsors involved!
83. Conga Lap
The longest conga line you have ever seen! Don’t forget to ask the DJ to turn up the beat!
84. Fitness Lap
Set up stations along the track for people to stop and do various fitness activities. For example:
station one: do 10 jumping jacks, station two: do 25 sit-ups, station three: jump rope for one minute,
station four: spend five minutes stretching, relaxing, etc.
85. Bunny Hop
You will get a great workout hopping around the track for a lap!
86. Men/Women Only Lap
Ask your DJ or emcee to read mission messages about early detection for gender-specific cancers.
Add a special touch by playing “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” or “Macho Man” for each lap.
87. Sweetheart Lap
Invite all the couples in the crowd to grab their significant others and enjoy a slow stroll around the
track together.
88. Beach Ball Lap
Send a few beach balls into the crowd of walkers and see if they can stay in the air through the
whole lap.
89. Selfie Lap
Take a picture of you at the Relay event and send it to someone that is not there.
90. Poker Laps
Each lap, participants are handed a card. The participant with best hand after five laps wins.
Participants may also walk a sixth lap to trade in a card.
91. Hokey Pokey/Chicken Dance Lap
Get everyone in on this one. The more the merrier! DJ plays Hokey Pokey/Chicken Dance.
92. Walking Bingo
Walkers are given a bingo card as they walk the track. Ask the DJ to call out spots and let participants
mark them off with pens, pencils, markers, etc. The first person with a straight or diagonal line
shouts, “Bingo!”
93. Thriller/Zombie Lap
Walk the lap zombie-style to the tune of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”.
94. Superball Lap
A much cleaner version of the egg-carry lap! Pick up large, inexpensive bouncy balls and plastic
spoons. See who can carry the ball around the track without dropping it. If you drop the ball, you will
need to pick it up and continue.
95. Hula Hoop Lap
Loosen your hips and get ready to do the hula! Keep the hula hoop moving, and don’t let it fall or
you have to stop. First participant to complete a lap wins.
96. Crazy Hats Lap
Customize your hat with flair, feathers, or whatever you can find. The craziest hat wins a prize.
97. Bed Head Lap
This is a great lap for late at night or early in the morning. See who can make their hair look the
worst to win a prize.
98. Parade of Teams Lap
Ask teams to create a team banner, spirit stick, or another item to represent their team and have
everyone walk the track together.
99. Make Some Noise Lap
Bring noise makers, tambourines, and anything else to make a lot of noise. This also works great as a
wake-up lap in the morning!
100. Alternative Ambulation
Travel the track in any way, except walking! (Make sure you understand your event’s
bicycle/skate/skateboard policy.)