| - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Relay For Life is next month at Cal Poly! If you're not familiar with Relay, it's an incredible 24-hour team fundraiser for the American Cancer Society--and the largest annual non-profit fundraising event in the world.
Here's a bare-bones rundown of Relay: You form a team with a group of friends (or family members, classmates, strangers you meet online...whoever you want). Your team sets a fundraising goal, and each member raises money before the day of the event. On Relay Day, all teams camp out around a track for 24 hours. The goal is to have at least one member from each team walking around the track at all times.
I'm writing about Relay for a few different reasons. First, I'm so excited about this and I can't believe I've never heard of it before. Relay For Life has taken place annually for twenty years and in thousands of communities nationwide, but this is the first time I've been aware of its existence (and would probably still be oblivious if it weren't occurring practically in my backyard). So if you're even slightly intrigued by the thought of Relay, get yourself over to this site and type in your zip code to find Relays near you. Relay For Life is a perfect event for clubs or fraternities/sororities. Or untraditional family reunions. Or anyone who misses having sleepovers and wants to take part in the biggest and best one ever: hundreds of people, campfires, live music, games, food, ceremonies honoring cancer survivors and victims--and what slumber party would be complete without a hodgepodge of people walking non-stop around a big circle on the ground?
If you've gone to the above website and found that there are no Relays happening in your area; or there are, but only on the day you've already committed to helping your friend repaint his house, you can still help fundraise by making a donation at my Relay website here. The smallest amount helps. Even 82 cents. Even eight cents. Even two cents! If you found a quarter on the ground today, donate that amount; if you got your paycheck of $510.63, donate the 63 cents. Thank you so much for whatever amount you can spare. And on the website, you can choose to make your donation in honor of someone.
That brings me to the most important part. Whether or not you're able to participate in a Relay or make a donation, if you know someone who is battling, has survived, or has become a victim of cancer--let me know their name. The most inspirational part of Relay is the Luminaria Ceremony, a chance to honor cancer survivors and remember those who have passed away. Each luminaria is decorated with the name of a cancer survivor/victim and at dusk, all the candles are lit along the track so the glowing luminarias light the way for walkers during the night. Tell me if someone you know has fought cancer. I will make sure their name is on a luminaria as your personal dedication. |
