Relay for Life

Many of us in the neighborhood participated in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life this year. I wanted to volunteer a little bit with the ACS this year and they talked me into being the Event Chair for the South Valley Relay. Luckily, I had the support of great friends and neighbors. We were able to pull this event off with each others help. It was a great event and we had lots of people attend raise money for the ACS.

Team Captains wore yellow shirts and committee members wore blue.

Grassy area with Fight Back flags.

The event is made up of teams of 8 to 15 people. The goal of each team is to raise $1,000 or $100 per person. Each team does their own individual fund raising prior to the event as well as selling things at a booth during the event. At the relay, it is the goal of each team to have one person walking the track through the night. The thought is, "If cancer doesn't sleep, then we won't sleep until we find a cure." We didn't do so well on this aspect of the relay, but it was our first year. We are going to do this next year as well. We would love anyone support from anywhere. You don't even have to live in the state to support the cause. We have online teams that just raise funds and we will send you some shirts. Let me know if you are interested in doing this with us next year.

Setting up with other committee members

Zane Gonder, he's a Bronze Star recipient and he literally saved the day!

Our Armed Forces doing the flag ceremony

The cancer survivors wore purple shirts and led the first lap of the relay

Some of our survivors and little survivors

We all walked the track after the survivors. Notice the luminaria bags lining the track. They represent a survivor or someone still fighting cancer, or someone who passed away because of cancer. We sold those luminaria bags to raise money.

Each team did a booth. The light saber booth was a big hit.

Some of our kids testing the defensive skills of the Military Mascot.

The kids game area.

This band saved us too. Many of our acts cancelled the night before and these guys came on short notice. Good job entertainment committee.

We lit electric candles in the luminaria bags for the luminaria ceremony. That was a highlight of the night.

We stayed late into the night and a lot of people camped out.

Thanks Brittany for the pics.