RELAY FOR LIFE, the signature fundraising event of the American Cancer Society, closedits fifth and most successful annual event in Second Life on Sunday, July 19 having raisedover a quarter of a million US dollars in support of cancer research. With donations stillcoming in, that figure is already over $270,000 US and it looks as if the final total will easilysurpass that by the end of July.This year’s Relay had the theme of ‘
’ and was the largest to date, witha track lined by luminaria winding through 37 sims of amazing builds - some speciallycreated by designers, and some built by the teams themselves. More than 1,900 avatarscompleted one or more laps, a combined total of 2,155 laps, while others chose to visitthe campsites, where they could teleport to a space station from the survivors’ moon camp,visit the Mars base, cycle around the Tour de France, zap cancer cells in the Anatomicabuild, take a ride through the breast cancer rollercoaster, explore The Shire – home of thehobbits - rest on the lovely Tranquility beach, or attend one of the music events on theentertainment sims. There was also a lovingly built replica of the Charleston, SC HopeLodge. Avatars gathered outside Hope Lodge wearing purple capes, and pledging to ‘FightBack’, in a moving ceremony. And 5,370 luminaria were lit in support of loved ones goingthrough treatment, and in memory of those heroes who have passed on.Stingray9798 Raymaker (the avatar of the official ACS representative in Second Life,Jeffrey Montegut) drew attention to some of the new features of this year’s event: ‘Thisyear marked the first year that we held the Relay for Life of Second Life Teen Edition (a teenrelay was held from Friday to Saturday) which means we actually relayed for 48 hours,straight.’ He went on: ‘Particularly important this year was that the American CancerSociety’s ‘mission’ and the ‘international’ aspect of Relay were fused into almost everyaspect of the event.’
, who is stepping down as Relay for Life of Second Life Event Chair afterfour very successful years – three as Event Chair – said: ‘This was our largest and mostsuccessful Relay ever. We have put Relay for Life of Second Life on the map not only inSecond Life but also in real life.’ She continued: ‘Gwinnett County Relay For Life (one of thelargest perennial events in the USA, with more than 6,000 participants raising more than onemillion US dollars – ed.) may be the biggest Relay for Life and the largest money maker inreal life but ... they don't have participants from over 26 different countries, a survivor campon the moon, a roller coaster, or sailing activities, they don’t have tinies and furries, theydon't have the ability to fly and to teleport from one side of the track to the other, and aboveall they don’t have you! WE are truly One World!’This past weekend’s Relay For Life of Second Life also set a new listener record forT1Radio, the Relay's Official Broadcaster, which reported that this was its biggest weekendever!According to Trader1 Whiplash, the station recorded more than 6,000 unique IPaddresses logged to T1Radio on July 18-19 combined. ‘I knew right away this was goingto be a huge weekend. By the time we began the opening ceremony we had more than 600listeners showing on our board’ said Trader.A record number of teams took part this year with 130 teams listed, ranging from two to 400people per team, by the time of the Opening Ceremony. For MamaP Beerbaum, Chair ofthe Teams Committee, it was an extraordinary experience. ‘When I was asked if I wanted toChair the Teams Committee, I hesitated, because I had been a team captain the previousyear, and that was what I so loved about Relay ... the team experience. I knew if I said ‘yes’that I could not do that anymore. Well, I am glad I decided to take the leap. Instead ofworking with ONE team, I got to work with EACH of the teams, to talk to hundreds of you, toshare your plans, your dreams, your heartache, your passion, your ups and downs, yourkindness, your caring ... It has been my privilege and honor to relay with each and every oneof you.’Cinders Vale, the avatar of a breast cancer survivor in Washington State, USA, says: ‘Thiswas my third year, and this year I took a more active part in volunteering. Being part of Relaywith so many others was beyond what I thought it would be. I can’t wait to get started for2010!’ Cinders was Co-Chair of the Survivors/Caregivers Committee which organized theopening lap when survivors and caregivers take to the track. According to Cinders, 135survivors and caregivers were registered in advance for the opening lap and an estimated150 avatars took part, setting another record.Poppy Zabelin of the new International Relations committee said: ’Coming from twoEuropean countries - I am originally from the UK and I spend part of my time there and partof my time on Holland which are BOTH International Relay countries - I immediately saw thetheme of this year’s Relay as an opportunity to help to put Relay on the map as a trulyinternational, global, event which is now licenced to 20 countries outside the USA. Herethough there’s one crucial difference: we all walk the same track.’ She went on: ‘By theclose of Relay I had counted participants from a record 31 countries and made many newfriends. It was awesome to see so many flags around the starting sim and to be holdinghands with so many people across the globe.’As incoming Event Chair for 2010, Tayzia Abattoir, pointed out at the Closing Ceremony, itis impossible to touch on all those who contributed their time and skills and thank them allindividually.‘From the American Cancer Society Representative, Jeff Montegut, to the Event Chair andCo Chairs, and all of the Committee members, those making sure the main event runssmoothly, others making the awards, the t-shirts, luminaries, the kiosks, taking care of PRand spreading the word, mission integrity, international relations, greeters, mentors, radiostations, publications that give us free space, musicians that provide free events, assistancefrom the in-world ACS support groups, and so much more, there are so many things that somany people do, I just can’t possibly touch on all of them or I will be talking forever.‘From everything that goes on behind the scenes, to the captains and teams. Without you,we would not have a Relay. You are the blood that runs through the Relay veins, who haveraised over a quarter million dollars for our 2009 campaign alone, and in today’s economythat speaks loudly about the caring, giving community that Second Life is and of our Relayfor Life family here.’She closed by saying: ‘I am honored to be a member of this family and look forward toguiding Relay for Life of Second Life next year as the Event Chair, but I look forward evenmore to the day when there is a cure so that we can just gather as friends without the worryof cancer.’Some of the Committee are already looking ahead. Technical Chair ZenMondo Wormserwho stepped in at a crucial time to recover the database so that the donations were correctlyrecorded, said: ‘Collecting donations and recording them is becoming a larger task as Relaygrows larger. For 2010 we’re designing a new system that should rise to the occasion aswell as offering new kiosk and vendor systems.’The last word has to go to a first-time relayer and cancer survivor from Australia, RebelMumSlade, who is a member of the Friends Fighting Cancer team. The event took place in thesame weekend as her real life birthday and days before her four-year check-up, which wasclear.‘Words cannot describe the impact of working with people from all over the world toward acommon goal. The utterly amazing international melting pot of people gathered in SecondLife to share laughter, memories and most of all to stand up to a common enemy isempowering. The love and caring makes you wish the whole world could experience this.Days after the event as I go for my walk, my head is a little higher, my stride faster and mysmile wider as I see myself doing backflips and running down the virtual track surrounded bysurvivors, caregivers and supporters from every nation.‘2009 was my first RFL in any life but you can bet this Aussie cancer survivor will be joining alocal group in real life too.’Next year’s campaign runs from March through July 2010 but plans are already beingmade, so if you would like to play an active role please join the ‘SL’s RFL Volunteers’ groupand look out for the announcements.
’ and was the largest to date, witha track lined by luminaria winding through 37 sims of amazing builds - some speciallycreated by designers, and some built by the teams themselves. More than 1,900 avatarscompleted one or more laps, a combined total of 2,155 laps, while others chose to visitthe campsites, where they could teleport to a space station from the survivors’ moon camp,visit the Mars base, cycle around the Tour de France, zap cancer cells in the Anatomicabuild, take a ride through the breast cancer rollercoaster, explore The Shire – home of thehobbits - rest on the lovely Tranquility beach, or attend one of the music events on theentertainment sims. There was also a lovingly built replica of the Charleston, SC HopeLodge. Avatars gathered outside Hope Lodge wearing purple capes, and pledging to ‘FightBack’, in a moving ceremony. And 5,370 luminaria were lit in support of loved ones goingthrough treatment, and in memory of those heroes who have passed on.Stingray9798 Raymaker (the avatar of the official ACS representative in Second Life,Jeffrey Montegut) drew attention to some of the new features of this year’s event: ‘Thisyear marked the first year that we held the Relay for Life of Second Life Teen Edition (a teenrelay was held from Friday to Saturday) which means we actually relayed for 48 hours,straight.’ He went on: ‘Particularly important this year was that the American CancerSociety’s ‘mission’ and the ‘international’ aspect of Relay were fused into almost everyaspect of the event.’
, who is stepping down as Relay for Life of Second Life Event Chair afterfour very successful years – three as Event Chair – said: ‘This was our largest and mostsuccessful Relay ever. We have put Relay for Life of Second Life on the map not only inSecond Life but also in real life.’ She continued: ‘Gwinnett County Relay For Life (one of thelargest perennial events in the USA, with more than 6,000 participants raising more than onemillion US dollars – ed.) may be the biggest Relay for Life and the largest money maker inreal life but ... they don't have participants from over 26 different countries, a survivor campon the moon, a roller coaster, or sailing activities, they don’t have tinies and furries, theydon't have the ability to fly and to teleport from one side of the track to the other, and aboveall they don’t have you! WE are truly One World!’This past weekend’s Relay For Life of Second Life also set a new listener record forT1Radio, the Relay's Official Broadcaster, which reported that this was its biggest weekendever!According to Trader1 Whiplash, the station recorded more than 6,000 unique IPaddresses logged to T1Radio on July 18-19 combined. ‘I knew right away this was goingto be a huge weekend. By the time we began the opening ceremony we had more than 600listeners showing on our board’ said Trader.A record number of teams took part this year with 130 teams listed, ranging from two to 400people per team, by the time of the Opening Ceremony. For MamaP Beerbaum, Chair ofthe Teams Committee, it was an extraordinary experience. ‘When I was asked if I wanted toChair the Teams Committee, I hesitated, because I had been a team captain the previousyear, and that was what I so loved about Relay ... the team experience. I knew if I said ‘yes’that I could not do that anymore. Well, I am glad I decided to take the leap. Instead ofworking with ONE team, I got to work with EACH of the teams, to talk to hundreds of you, toshare your plans, your dreams, your heartache, your passion, your ups and downs, yourkindness, your caring ... It has been my privilege and honor to relay with each and every oneof you.’Cinders Vale, the avatar of a breast cancer survivor in Washington State, USA, says: ‘Thiswas my third year, and this year I took a more active part in volunteering. Being part of Relaywith so many others was beyond what I thought it would be. I can’t wait to get started for2010!’ Cinders was Co-Chair of the Survivors/Caregivers Committee which organized theopening lap when survivors and caregivers take to the track. According to Cinders, 135survivors and caregivers were registered in advance for the opening lap and an estimated150 avatars took part, setting another record.Poppy Zabelin of the new International Relations committee said: ’Coming from twoEuropean countries - I am originally from the UK and I spend part of my time there and partof my time on Holland which are BOTH International Relay countries - I immediately saw thetheme of this year’s Relay as an opportunity to help to put Relay on the map as a trulyinternational, global, event which is now licenced to 20 countries outside the USA. Herethough there’s one crucial difference: we all walk the same track.’ She went on: ‘By theclose of Relay I had counted participants from a record 31 countries and made many newfriends. It was awesome to see so many flags around the starting sim and to be holdinghands with so many people across the globe.’As incoming Event Chair for 2010, Tayzia Abattoir, pointed out at the Closing Ceremony, itis impossible to touch on all those who contributed their time and skills and thank them allindividually.‘From the American Cancer Society Representative, Jeff Montegut, to the Event Chair andCo Chairs, and all of the Committee members, those making sure the main event runssmoothly, others making the awards, the t-shirts, luminaries, the kiosks, taking care of PRand spreading the word, mission integrity, international relations, greeters, mentors, radiostations, publications that give us free space, musicians that provide free events, assistancefrom the in-world ACS support groups, and so much more, there are so many things that somany people do, I just can’t possibly touch on all of them or I will be talking forever.‘From everything that goes on behind the scenes, to the captains and teams. Without you,we would not have a Relay. You are the blood that runs through the Relay veins, who haveraised over a quarter million dollars for our 2009 campaign alone, and in today’s economythat speaks loudly about the caring, giving community that Second Life is and of our Relayfor Life family here.’She closed by saying: ‘I am honored to be a member of this family and look forward toguiding Relay for Life of Second Life next year as the Event Chair, but I look forward evenmore to the day when there is a cure so that we can just gather as friends without the worryof cancer.’Some of the Committee are already looking ahead. Technical Chair ZenMondo Wormserwho stepped in at a crucial time to recover the database so that the donations were correctlyrecorded, said: ‘Collecting donations and recording them is becoming a larger task as Relaygrows larger. For 2010 we’re designing a new system that should rise to the occasion aswell as offering new kiosk and vendor systems.’The last word has to go to a first-time relayer and cancer survivor from Australia, RebelMumSlade, who is a member of the Friends Fighting Cancer team. The event took place in thesame weekend as her real life birthday and days before her four-year check-up, which wasclear.‘Words cannot describe the impact of working with people from all over the world toward acommon goal. The utterly amazing international melting pot of people gathered in SecondLife to share laughter, memories and most of all to stand up to a common enemy isempowering. The love and caring makes you wish the whole world could experience this.Days after the event as I go for my walk, my head is a little higher, my stride faster and mysmile wider as I see myself doing backflips and running down the virtual track surrounded bysurvivors, caregivers and supporters from every nation.‘2009 was my first RFL in any life but you can bet this Aussie cancer survivor will be joining alocal group in real life too.’Next year’s campaign runs from March through July 2010 but plans are already beingmade, so if you would like to play an active role please join the ‘SL’s RFL Volunteers’ groupand look out for the announcements.
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