[2] After serving three years as a United States Army surgeon, Dr. Klatt returned to school and became a colorectal specialist.
[6] In the mid-1980s, Dr. Klatt expressed interest in helping raise funds for his local American Cancer Society.
In May 1985, Dr. Klatt circled the track for a total of more than 83 miles at Baker Stadium at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma for 24 hours.
Throughout the next year, he, along with an event committee, developed plans for the City of Destiny Classic 24-Hour Run Against Cancer.
Since then, Dr. Klatt’s idea has turned into more than 5,200 Relay For Life events across the United States that have raised nearly $5 billion.
When he was diagnosed, he received a number of supportive letters and e-mails from around the world, and he spoke during the opening ceremonies at the Relay For Life of Tacoma, Washington.