Teen Dragged to Relay For Life Now Funds Pancreatic Research

One Relay For Life event changed everything for Cody Wolf.

At 18, Wolf was "dragged" to a Relay For Life fundraiser near Caldwell, Idaho by his girlfriend Alicia. He was starting college with a vague interest in science but no clear direction. Then he heard a young cancer survivor speak to the crowd.

"That was really impactful for me," Wolf said. "The experience gave me a more tangible idea of what I wanted to do."

That single evening sparked a decade-long journey from reluctant attendee to cancer researcher. Wolf kept attending Relay events throughout college. He volunteered with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, advocating for cancer research funding in the Idaho state capitol.

In 2023, while finishing graduate school, Wolf won a Young Leaders Award for his volunteer work improving access to cancer care. Just this April, the American Cancer Society awarded him a three-year postdoctoral fellowship to research new therapeutic targets for pancreatic tumors.

"Getting support for three years is incredible," Wolf said. "Having the support of the American Cancer Society means so much and allows me to keep doing this work."

Wolf's mentor, Dr. Cheryl Jorcyk at Boise State University, says his caring nature sets him apart. "What makes him special beyond being bright and hardworking would be his caring and his ability to help others," she told the Idaho Press.

The Ripple Effect

Wolf's story shows how community fundraising events create lasting change beyond the dollars raised. Those thousands of Relay For Life events across the country don't just fund research. They inspire the next generation of scientists who will develop tomorrow's treatments.

Wolf now brings lawmakers into his lab to show them research in action. He loves connecting with ACS volunteers, knowing some may one day benefit from the therapies he's developing. His research on pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest forms of the disease, could help thousands of future patients.

And Alicia, who dragged him to that first event? She's now his wife.

Wolf's journey proves that showing up, even reluctantly, can change not just your life but countless others.

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