Bringing you THE BEST OF SECOND LIFE

FLPR 2010.01
PRESS RELEASE – IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: TRADER1 WHIPLASH (trader@t1radio.com)

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For Life in Second Life — Its Relay Your Way!

In its continued effort to raise awareness and support for the American Cancer Society, Relay For Life Second Life has taken a lead from it’s real life counterpart and is beginning a new series of focused fund raising events. We are therefore pleased to announce the inauguration of the For Life in Second Life program.

For Life events are intended to focus on specific interest areas and allow their followers to plan and hold an approved event to support the Relay For Life of Second Life. For Life events are not intended to be team related, but instead are festival events in support of Relay For Life of Second Life. With the diverse nature of the virtual communities in Second Life and the abilities of the platform, the scope of For Life in Second Life events is limitless.

For Life events such as Bark For Life have been held in Relay communities across the United States. Bark For Life celebrates, in a Relay format , the companionship, comfort and therapeutic benefit provided by pets. With the addition of For Life the American Cancer Society is able to reach a new or expanded audience for its programs and resources, and the fund raising that helps support them.

The first of these For Life events planned is Sail For Life. The event, chaired by Chad Swanson and Aislyn Keynes, will center around Second Life’s vibrant sailing community. Sail For Life will include Regattas, Sailing displays and lessons, auctions and social events. The Yacht Clubs and other communities around the Blake Sea area of the grid will all be welcomed to participate. The event is scheduled to take place in June. Other events are currently being planned, including the building and live music communities.

Trader Whiplash, who is well known for his many roles in Relay For Life of Second Life is the 2010 Chair of For Life. The former Mission and Corporate Chair and 2009 Spirit of Relay Award co-recipient is very excited about the new opportunities presented by For Life . “Second Life presents so many different areas with in which we can work to support the American Cancer Society and with this new format we are given a new avenue with which to approach and encourage participation. ” Trader, a leukemia survivor, states. “I look forward to working with the many groups who make up this amazing community. We hope that with the addition of For Life events the Relay For Life of Second Life will increase not only its all important fund raising results, but will bring more and more members of our community in contact with the efforts and programs of the Society and its continuing fight for a cure for cancer”.

Stingray Raymaker, the American Cancer Society Staff Partner for Relay for Life in Second Life agrees. “We are so very excited introduce this new fund raising opportunity to Second Life. We are fortunate to have a great volunteer, Trader Whiplash to spearhead this venture into new horizons, and this is a great step forward for both Relay For Life and Second Life. We hope that the For Life concept will help to open new doors for various communities and groups within Second Life to learn, participate and feel welcome to the world of Relay For Life. This demonstrates that there are ways for all types of different communities in Second Life to join the Relay Nation in the fight against cancer. “

The American Cancer Society and the Relay For Life of Second Life recognize the capacity of the For Life program to engage new participants and capitalize on the unique ability of Second Life to host these For Life events. For Life in Second Life welcomes any interest group in Second Life to explore the possibility of hosting their own event. Interested groups can contact Trader1 Whiplash in Second Life (trader@t1radio.com) for program requirements and standards, and additional information.

Press Release
Thursday February 25, 2010 – for release on March 2

RFL of SL kicks off on March 13!

Relay For Life of Second Life (RFL of SL) is all set to start fundraising on March 13. For the last few weeks, the teams have been busy recruiting, registering, training, and planning events… and now they’re ready to KICK OFF!

Wishing On A Cure

This year’s theme is Wishing On A Cure. Because Relay For Life represents the wish that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that one day cancer will be eliminated. After 16 weeks of fun and fundraising, the teams will build campsites for the main event which will take place on July 17 and 18. Team members, volunteers and members of the SL community will walk a track for 24 hours to Celebrate survivorship, Remember those we have lost, and Fight Back to save lives by making a personal pledge to fight cancer.

In 2010 the fundraising goal is $300,000.

This year’s Event Chair is Tayzia Abattoir, supported by two Event Co-Chairs: Nuala Maracas and MamaP Beerbaum. The American Cancer Society’s representative in Second Life is Stingray9798 Raymaker.

From March 13 onwards, look out for the distinctive RFL of SL kiosks, vendors and event boards … and go RELAY!

About Relay For Life of Second Life

Relay For Life (RFL) is the signature fundraiser of the American Cancer Society. RFL of SL is an annual activity that takes place in Second Life in July each year. It is the largest, most successful fundraising event in the virtual world, raising more than $650,000 since it started in 2005. Volunteers form or join teams to have fun while fundraising and raising awareness about cancer from mid-March through mid-July. The funds raised go towards the American Cancer Society’s research, support and education programs, with 12-15% going towards international projects.

In 2009, RFL of SL raised $274,000 for the American Cancer Society and was ranked the 112th highest fundraiser out of more than 5,000 relays in the United States. There were 125 teams taking part. At the main event, 1913 avatars walked a track of 11,907 meters across 36 sims.

RFL has become an international movement. Since 1996 the American Cancer Society has partnered with international organizations to hold relay events all around the globe. In 2009 RFL took place in 21 countries. RFL of SL is international, too – participants from over 26 countries took part in RFL of SL in 2009.
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FOLLOW US on:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/RelayForLife_SL
Avatars United: http://www.avatarsunited.com/groups/relay-for-life-of-second-life
Facebook: ‘Relay For Life of Second Life 2010’ on http://www.facebook.com
RFL of SL Updates: http://rflofsl.blogspot.com/

For background information and the history of RFL of SL see:
SL Wiki: https://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Relay_For_Life_of_Second_Life and
Official RFL of SL website: http://www.relayforlife.org/secondlife

For more information please contact:
Poppy Zabelin (RFL of SL PR Chair poppy_zabelin@yahoo.co.uk) or
Breezy Carver (RFL of SL PR Co-Chair seabreezegal@gmail.com).

Press release
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 – For immediate release

Relay For Life of Second Life releases new-style event boards

Moonshade Pastorelli writes:
Relay For Life of Second Life (RFL of SL) is about to hit the grid. A new event board makes it easier than ever to list, promote, and discover events during the 16 weeks of fundraising. The RFL of SL 2010 campaign kicks off Saturday, March 13.

Some of the events to look out for during the campaign are races, DJ parties, live music marathons, fashion shows, and rodeos. A popular event is “Bid Me Bald.” For every L$5,000 a team member raises, she or he must go bald for one day.

“I want everyone to be aware of the event boards–to touch them, to enjoy the fantastic events that the RFL teams put on,” said Panza Eilde, RFL of SL teams chair. “There’s joy in sharing the conviction to raise funds for research that will help people overcome cancer. We want people to come to events, socialize with others, and raise funds for a good cause. We want to hit that $300,000 US donation mark this year.”

An example of a six-face RFL of SL event board

 Event boards were created to publicly display images of upcoming events that support RFL. Clicking any image on the event board will provide a note card with information about the event, when it will be held, where it will be held, and who’s holding the event. With a possible 40 events per week over 16 weeks, the event boards will be able to cycle through a series of images. The American Cancer Society (ACS) logo or mission posters will also randomly appear on faces of the displayer. Click these images, and the viewer is taken to a web page for more information about ACS and RFL.

Click on the banner at the top of the displayer and a blue menu appears with options that the owner can set, such as change the speed of the texture cycle, remove events that conflict with the owner’s local events, and offer a copy of the displayer itself.

“One of the neatest things about the event boards is that the team captains can post their events in one location and with continuity,” Eilde said.

To place an event in the displayer, RFL team members visit the middle floor of the warehouse at ACS Island. An in-box on a desk accepts a square, full-perm texture and a copy and resell/giveaway note card that contains particulars about the team event. The event image hits the displayer within one to two hours, and an e-mail is sent to the public relations team to get news about the event to various SL media. The event is also shown on the RFL of SL web page. When an event is over, it is automatically deleted. Teams are asked to place an event in the in-box no more than 10 days before it begins.

The new event boards were created by Charlene Trudeau, RFL of SL design committee chair, and the board itself was conceived and created by Dwen Dooley, RFL of SL survivor/caregiver chair and himself a cancer survivor.

Dwen Dooley sitting atop the new-style event board

“The idea of the design is that the displayers should all have the same look and feel so they’re not confused as being anything other than an official RFL of SL event board for the ACS,” Dooley said.

Event boards can be set up anywhere on the SL grid and are available in a variety of styles and sizes: a two-prim one-face displayer, a four-prim three-face displayer, a six-prim six-face displayer, and a 10-prim nine-face displayer. Most of the displays come in small, medium, and large; however, the one-face event board is also available in tiny. The largest displayer, with nine-faces, stands 6.5 meters tall and 5 meters wide. The six-face event board has three faces on each of two sides and is ideal for locations, such malls or outdoor settings. The other event boards can be easily set up on a wall.

An example of the new-style nine-face event boards

“Even amidst the competitiveness of Relay For Life, there’s a camaraderie,” Dooley said. “We’re all fighting cancer in one way or another. Celebrate, remember, and fight back. I think that’s the best feature of this event board. A team associated with a venue will put out one of these displayers, and it will stay there and show the events for all teams, not just one. It will display events at different places and different times. It will improve fundraising for everyone. People will start coming to more events, and those people who don’t know about RFL of SL will come to the events.”

Tayzia Abattoir, event chair, said: “I am excited about new technology and whenever we can find uses for it to better our in-world program. This is a wonderful new informational outreach opportunity created by Dwen. He has worked many hours perfecting the event board and it is an exciting new tool for our RFL of SL program. It will make it much easier for team captains to get the information about their events out, not only from the listing on the event board itself, but also as the information fed into the system about their events is generated to our PR group to release to media outlets and list on our google calendar etc.”

Distribution of the event boards directly to RFL of SL groups began on February 21. Displayers may be obtained by others in one of three ways. Go to any current displayer and click the banner on the top. Select “Get a Copy” from the menu, and a boxed kit of all 11 displayers will be sent. These kits are no transfer. A free copy of the kit may also be found at ACS Island at http://slurl.com/secondlife/American%20Cancer%20Society/151/162/51.

Xstreet SL lists the event board kit for L$1, which is distributed to ACS.

For more information about the event boards, e-mail Dwen Dooley at dwendooley@gmail.com.

For more information please contact one of the following people: Poppy Zabelin (RFL of SL PR Chair poppy_zabelin@yahoo.co.uk) or Breezy Carver (RFL of SL PR Co-Chair seabreezegal@gmail.com)

FOLLOW US on http://twitter.com/RelayForLife_SL and http://rflofsl.blogspot.com/

PRESS RELEASE

January 23, 2010 – For immediate release

Wishing On A Cure – teams’ registration for Relay For Life of Second Life opening soon!

RELAY FOR LIFE OF SECOND LIFE is back and it’s bigger and better than ever! This year’s theme is ‘Wishing On A Cure’. Teams’ registration opens soon in preparation for fundraising from March to July, culminating in a 24-hour walk on July 17-18 around a virtual track.

To register your team, please go to: http://www.relayforlife.org/relay/slregistration. Registration opens on February 1.

Don’t worry if you haven’t taken part in a relay event before. There will be an opportunity to learn more at a series of informational meetings on February 12 and 13 where the incoming Event Chair Tayzia Abattoir , together with the American Cancer Society’s official representative in Second Life, Stingray9798 Raymaker, will present an overview and hold a Q&A, supported by the Event Co-Chairs MamaP Beerbaum and Nuala Maracas. Each team will also be assigned a mentor who will coach the team, brief them on new developments and answer questions.

‘This year we’ve paid special attention to training’ says Tayzia. ‘During the informational meetings we’ll explain what goes on at Relay, how to form teams, and how people can get involved in the event.’ She added: ‘Each team will be assigned a mentor as well. We have a great group of enthusiastic mentors this year who have already been busy training for over a month so that we’re ready to go as soon as registration opens.’

For more information please contact one of the following:

Tayzia Abbatoir (RFL of SL Event Chair tayziaabbattoir@gmail.com), 

Stingray9798 Raymaker (ACS Staff Partner Jeffrey.Montegut@cancer.org),

MamaP Beerbaum & Nuala Maracas (Event Co-Chairs, mamapbeerbaum@gmail.com or nuala.maracas@gmail.com).

About Relay For Life

Relay For Life is the signature fundraising event of the American Cancer Society. The mission of the American Cancer Society is to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. Cancer knows no boundaries. The American Cancer Society partners with 20 cancer organizations globally to license and support Relay For Life programs in other countries.

About Relay For Life of Second Life

Relay For Life of Second Life (RFL of SL) is a division of Relay For Life in an online virtual world. Relay For Life teams fundraise from mid-March through mid-July. On July 17 and 18 we will walk a track for 24 hours, just like in a real world Relay For Life. Team members build and gather at their team campsites, enjoy live music, participate in fun events, and explore the many Relay sims and the incredible builds by some of Second Life’s top designers, as the event runs overnight and into the next morning.

Last year’s Relay For Life of Second Life attracted more than 120 teams with participants from over 26 countries, held over 300 team fundraising events between March and July, and raised over US$275,000 (that’s REAL US dollars) for cancer research and education.

Key dates

Please note these key dates:

February 1 – Teams’ registration opens

February 12 – information sessions at 6am and 4pm

February 13 – information sessions at 8am and 6pm

March 13 – Kickoff Party and start of fundraising!

July 17-18 – GO RELAY!

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MEDIA NOTES

For more information please contact one of the following people: Poppy Zabelin (RFL of SL PR Chair poppy_zabelin@yahoo.co.uk) or Breezy Carver (RFL of SL PR Co-Chair seabreezegal@gmail.com)

FOLLOW US on http://twitter.com/RelayForLife_SL and http://rflofsl.blogspot.com/

NOTE- we plan to hold a press conference in Second Life on March 6 at 11am so that everyone is briefed before the Kickoff on March 13. Invitations will be sent out closer to the date. Meanwhile, please mark your calendars!

PRESS RELEASE Sunday, 20 September, 2009
===== for immediate release =====

Spreading the Hope – RFL Hope Hunt + Race begins Sunday, September 27

Starting Sunday, September 27, the Relay for Life of Second Life Hope Hunt + Race will be taking place throughout Second Life. The Hunt will last for three weeks from 10am SLT on Sunday, September 27 through Saturday, October 10. All proceeds go to Relay for Life, the American Cancer Society’s signature activity.

This is a treasure hunt in Second Life. It was conceived by the ‘All-Stars’ Relay for Life team who originally organized a hunt in June, but had to close down the hunt due to technical issues. They have now resolved the issues and are looking forward to a successful event!

So how does it work? Over 200 participating merchants will hide pink Hope roses at their locations. Like most hunts, many of the merchants will be putting give-away items – ‘swag’ – in the roses. There will also be 100 roses on the American Cancer Society sim. Unlike many hunts, merchants can place as many roses as they choose at their location – there is no limit. The rose represents hope for a cure, and the organizers chose pink for this event because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

This is also a ‘race’. Cash prizes have been donated and will be awarded to the winners at the conclusion of the event, as follows: first prize: L$45,000; second prize: L$25,000; and third prize: L$10,000. The prize money has been donated anonymously, in honor of a loved one who lost the battle to cancer.

To take part, hunters click on a sign to receive a free Hud, which they can wear, which will track the number of roses they find. The signs are set out at participating merchants and there is no entry fee. The leaderboard will be displayed on the Hope Hunt website: http://thehopehunt.blogspot.com/ and will be automatically updated every three hours.

The merchants will purchase the roses they place at their location(s). All proceeds from the sale of roses go directly to Relay for Life. There will also be a website that provides merchants with ‘traffic reports’, showing the number of avatars who have found roses at each of their locations.

Says Sidda Jubilee of the All-Stars team: ‘Each and every one of us at one time or another has been touched by cancer. It has destroyed so many lives and Relay for Life enables our avatars to participate in defeating this enemy. We want to stamp cancer out of our lives now and forever. With hunts being so popular in Second Life, there is no better way to spread cancer awareness across the grid; it will also spread this awareness to each and every avatar’s real life as well.’ She continued: ‘Special thanks are due to Arete Diplomat whose wonderful scripting made it work.’

Tayzia Abattoir, Relay for Life of Second Life Event Chair for 2009-2010 says: ‘I am excited to have it utilizing the American Cancer Society sim so more people can see the services we have here It is a wonderful idea, and the way it was thought out and put together took a lot of work and dedication. Kudos to everyone involved with such a creative fun event to raise funds for the ACS!’ She added, ‘I plan to look for some roses when I find time to quit working LOL!’

Happy hunting! And if you would like to volunteer for Relay for Life 2010 please join the ‘SL’s RFL Volunteers’ group and look out for the announcements.

For cancer information 24/7, please visit http://www.cancer.org or call 1.800.227.2345 in the USA.

Briefing for Press and bloggers:
Please contact: Poppy Zabelin (poppy_zabelin@yahoo.co.uk), PR Chair for Relay for Life 2009-2010, or Sidda Jubilee or Areta Diplomat on behalf of the organizers. Or visit http://thehopehunt.blogspot.com/ for the latest information.

Relay For Life of Second Life set a new fundraising record this year, raising over $270,000. The American Cancer Society and the planning committee would like to thank everyone who worked so hard to make this year’s event a success: the teams and corporate sponsors, the venues who put out our posters and donation kiosks, the venues who hosted the team’s fundraisers, the individual fundraisers and everyone who gave during the many fundraising events.

Spirit Of Relay Award 2009

This year the spirit awards were given to two individual that received an overwhelming amount of nominations. This year the spirit award went to the 2009 Chair Fayandria Foley and our mission chair Trader Whiplash. Both of these deserving individuals are cancer survivors themselves and have exemplified the Spirit of Relay for over 4 years by embracing the need to spread awareness of cancer prevention in Second Life.

Spirit of the Relay Day Award for 2009: Awarded to the team and individual that embodies the “Spirit of the Relay”. “Spirit of the Relay” includes an overall performance of the team & Individual, not simply the amount raised. This includes the Relay activities and embodying the One World, One Hope…Relay for Life theme.

Spirit Of Relay – New Team – Relay for Hope
Spirit Of Relay – Returning Team – Passionate Redheads

During the event awards were handed out to different teams and individuals as a way of saying thank you for all their hard work. The following are the teams and individuals who won awards:

2009 Relay For Life Of Second Life Awards

Most Inventive Campsite Fundraising Award
Awarded to the most unique and creative way of fund raising at a Relay campsite

1 Armada Fights Back
2 United Forces Against Cancer
3 New Babbage RFL

Best Theme Decorated Campsite Award
Awarded for all-round design interpretation of the One World, One Hope…Relay for Life theme and sub themes for each Region

1 V-Innovations
2 New Babbage RFL
3 Eternal Beacon

Designer Sim Build – July 18 Relay
Awarded for the design that captures the essence, the reality and scale of the real or imaginary worlds they represent, and truly give us a world to call our own for a brief and unforgettable moment in time.
For over-all atmosphere, ambiance and detail
For the clever way they took difficult requirements and made them into a center piece
For the tasteful and enlightening way of incorporating cancer awareness into at theme
For the best storytelling One World, One Hope…Relay for Life theme

Mars Sim
Build Team Headed by Reitsuki Kojima
Design Team members
Greg Merryman
Elfod Nemeth
Doctor Obolensky
Rip Wirefly
Aeolus Cleanslate
Kaylee Frye
Beq Janus
Kandace Commons
Canolli Capalini
Skusting Dagger

Most Laps walked
Awarded to the person who walked the most laps during the actual 24 Relay hours, as declared on the official Relay Lap Counter

Jaraziah Lowell (23.54 laps)

This year we introduced the Convio fund raising website. This site was an area very similar to the real world relay online donation sites. It gave us the ability to reach beyond SL to our friends, family and co-workers who may want to contribute to your individual or team fund raising.

Top Individual Website (Convio) Fund raising
Jaelle Akula $1,744.38 US dollars

Top Teams Website (Convio) Fund
1) Relay Rockers $3,780.38 US dollars
2) Circle Of Life $2,302.00
3) Eternal Beacon $1,345.53 US dollars

Team Fundraising Club Banners

The Team Fundraising Club has been adapted from the RL Relay’s for Second Life and was used in previous SL Relay’s in 2005 & 2006. It is based on the total linden dollars a team has raised as of opening ceremonies, and continuing as levels increase during the July 18 & 19, 2009 Relay. This year’s winners we had 17 teams that reach the diamond level by raising over L$1,000,000; they were:

Relay’s Raiders
Goreans for Relay For Life
Relay for HOPE
The All-Stars
Relay Rockers
Friends Fighting Cancer
Passionate Redheads
Indie Rock for RFL
Team Caledon
BOSL Relay Team
Eternal Beacon
Eshi Otawara
The Quest for a Cure
Sail for Life
Relay Hope
The lands of Nor
Relay Wizards for Spunky

We also had 15 teams reach the gold level (L$500,000 – L$999,999); 30 teams reached the silver level (L$100,000 – L$499,999); and 61 teams who reached the bronze level (L$1,000 – L$99,999).

For a full list of the 125 plus teams and their total Linden dollars raised.please go to www.relayforlife.org/secondlife and click on the teams totals on the left side.

For further information on how you can join us next year for the 2010 Relay For Life of Second Life please visit the websites at www.relayforlife.org, www.cancer.org or call our 24/7 phone line, 1-800-227-2345.

PRESS RELEASE Thursday, July 23, 2009

Relay for Life of Second Life shatters records, raises over US$270,000 to fight cancer

Course Statistics Board

 

RELAY FOR LIFE, the signature fundraising event of the American Cancer Society, closed its fifth and most successful annual event in Second Life on Sunday, July 19 having raised over a quarter of a million US dollars in support of cancer research. With donations still coming in, that figure is already over $270,000 US and it looks as if the final total will easily surpass that by the end of July.

This year’s Relay had the theme of ‘One World, One Hope’ and was the largest to date, with a track lined by luminaria winding through 37 sims of amazing builds – some specially created by designers, and some built by the teams themselves. More than 1,900 avatars completed one or more laps, a combined total of 2,155 laps, while others chose to visit the 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 Anatomica build, take a ride through the breast cancer rollercoaster, explore The Shire – home of the hobbits – rest on the lovely Tranquility beach, or attend one of the music events on the entertainment sims. There was also a lovingly built replica of the Charleston, SC Hope Lodge. And 5,370 luminaria were lit in support of loved ones going through 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: ‘This year marked the first year that we held the Relay for Life of Second Life Teen Edition (a teen relay was held from Friday to Saturday) which means we actually relayed for 48 hours, straight.’ He went on: ‘Particularly important this year were that the American Cancer Society’s ‘mission’ and the ‘international’ aspect of Relay were fused into almost every aspect of the event.’

Fayandria Foley, who is stepping down as Relay for Life of Second Life Event Chair after four very successful years – three as Event Chair – said: ‘This was our largest and most successful Relay ever. We have put Relay for Life of Second Life on the map not only in Second Life but also in real life.’ She continued: ‘Gwinnett County Relay For Life (one of the largest perennial events in the USA, with more than 6,000 participants raising more than one million US dollars – ed.) may be the biggest Relay for Life and the largest money maker in real life but … they don’t have participants from over 26 different countries, a survivor camp on the moon, a roller coaster, or sailing activities, they don’t have tinies and furries, they don’t have the ability to fly and to teleport from one side of the track to the other, and above all 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 for T1Radio, the Relay’s Official Broadcaster, which reported that this was its biggest weekend ever!

According to Trader1 Whiplash, the station recorded more than 6,000 unique IP addresses logged to T1Radio on July 18-19 combined. ‘I knew right away this was going to be a huge weekend. By the time we began the opening ceremony we had more than 600 listeners showing on our board’ said Trader.
A record number of teams took part this year with 130 teams listed, ranging from two to 400 people per team, by the time of the Opening Ceremony. For MamaP Beerbaum, Chair of the Teams Committee, it was an extraordinary experience. ‘When I was asked if I wanted to Chair the Teams Committee, I hesitated, because I had been a team captain the previous year, 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 of working with ONE team, I got to work with EACH of the teams, to talk to hundreds of you, to share your plans, your dreams, your heartache, your passion, your ups and downs, your kindness, your caring … It has been my privilege and honor to relay with each and every one of you.’

Cinders Vale, the avatar of a breast cancer survivor in Washington State, USA, says: ‘This was my third year, and this year I took a more active part in volunteering. Being part of Relay with so many others was beyond what I thought it would be. I can’t wait to get started for 2010!’ Cinders was Co-Chair of the Survivors/Caregivers Committee which organized the opening lap when survivors and caregivers take to the track. According to Cinders, 135 survivors and caregivers were registered in advance for the opening lap and an estimated 150 avatars took part, setting another record.

Poppy Zabelin of the new International Relations committee said: ’Coming from two European countries – I am originally from the UK and I spend part of my time there and part of my time on Holland which are BOTH International Relay countries – I immediately saw the theme of this year’s Relay as an opportunity to help to put Relay on the map as a truly international, global, event which is now licenced to 20 countries outside the USA. Here though there’s one crucial difference: we all walk the same track.’ She went on: ‘By the close of Relay I had counted participants from a record 31 countries and made many new friends. It was awesome to see so many flags around the starting sim and to be holding hands with so many people across the globe.’

As incoming Event Chair for 2010, Tayzia Abattoir, pointed out at the Closing Ceremony, it is impossible to touch on all those who contributed their time and skills and thank them all individually.

‘From the American Cancer Society Representative, Jeff Montegut, to the Event Chair and Co Chairs, and all of the Committee members, those making sure the main event runs smoothly, others making the awards, the t-shirts, luminaries, the kiosks, taking care of PR and spreading the word, mission integrity, international relations, greeters, mentors, radio stations, publications that give us free space, musicians that provide free events, assistance from the in-world ACS support groups, and so much more, there are so many things that so many 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 have raised over a quarter million dollars for our 2009 campaign alone, and in today’s economy that speaks loudly about the caring, giving community that Second Life is and of our Relay for Life family here.’

She closed by saying: ‘I am honored to be a member of this family and look forward to guiding Relay for Life of Second Life next year as the Event Chair, but I look forward even more to the day when there is a cure so that we can just gather as friends without the worry of cancer.’

Some of the Committee are already looking ahead. Technical Chair ZenMondo Wormser who stepped in at a crucial time to recover the database so that the donations were correctly recorded, said: ‘Collecting donations and recording them is becoming a larger task as Relay grows larger. For 2010 we’re designing a new system that should rise to the occasion as well as offering new kiosk and vendor systems.’

The last word has to go to a first-time relayer and cancer survivor from Australia, RebelMum Slade, who is a member of the Friends Fighting Cancer team. The event took place in the same weekend as her real life birthday and days before her four-year check-up, which was clear.

‘Words cannot describe the impact of working with people from all over the world toward a common goal. The utterly amazing international melting pot of people gathered in Second Life to share laughter, memories and most of all to stand up to a common enemy is empowering. 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 my smile wider as I see myself doing backflips and running down the virtual track surrounded by survivors, 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 a local group in real life too.’

Next year’s campaign runs from March through July 2010 but plans are already being made, so if you would like to play an active role please join the ‘SL’s RFL Volunteers’ group and look out for the announcements.

For further information please contact: Belle Loll (belleloll@charter.net) or Poppy Zabelin (poppy_zabelin@yahoo.co.uk)
For cancer information 24/7, visit cancer.org or call 1.800.227.2345.

PRESS RELEASE

‘One World One Hope’ – Relay For Life of Second Life is international!

This year’s Relay For Life theme is ‘ONE WORLD ONE HOPE’ to reflect the fact that Relay For Life is an INTERNATIONAL event. At the latest count there will be people from at least 20 countries taking part in Relay For Life of Second Life, the signature event of the American Cancer Society, when the track opens on July 18.

In 2009, local volunteers all over the real world are organizing overnight Relay for Life events to support cancer organizations in: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Portugal, South Africa, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom – as well as in the United States of America.

Relay for Life goes by many names – as ‘Revezando pela vida’ in Brazil, ‘Arrangør af Stafet For Livet’ in Denmark, ‘Relais Pour La Vie’ in france and Luxembourg, ‘Lauf ins Leben’ in Germany, ‘Relevo por la vida’ in Honduras, ‘Samenloop voor Hoop’ in the Netherlands, and as ‘Um Dia Pela Vida’ in Portugal. But all with the same message: Celebrate, Remember, and Fight Back.

And the same holds true for Relay for Life of Second Life.

If you’ve ever hesitated about giving your Lindens to an ‘American’ fundraising event, think again. According to Stingray9798 Raymaker, the American Cancer Society’s representative in Second Life, ‘Around 12-15% of all monies raised for Relay for Life of Second Life go towards INTERNATIONAL causes’.

International Relay For Life at SL6B

The International Relations Committee of Relay for Life of Second Life is a team of ambassadors from the UK, Canada, Australia, Brazil, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Spain and Norway who are reaching out to the international communities in Second Life to inform them about Relay for Life and invite them to participate. The committee is translating key documents into foreign languages and placing them at international community sims, and there will be an international area and information point at Relay.

If you would like to help, or if you would like to learn more about the international work of Relay for Life of Second Life, please contact: Poppy Zabelin (International Relations Chair) or Rob Chandrayaan (International Relations Co-Chair and Public Relations Co-Chair).

And come walk the track with us on July 18-19. Help show the world that we mean to fight cancer, and win!

Background notes

What is Relay for Life?

Relay For Life is the signature fundraising event of the American Cancer Society. It has been going for 25 years and has been active, and continually growing, in Second Life for five years.

What is Relay for Life of Second Life?

Relay for Life of Second Life is a fun-filled overnight event that unites Second Life individuals throughout the virtual world AND the real world. In the months leading up to Relay, teams hold events and sell original items to raise money for the cause. In 2008, the Relay for Life of Second Life raised over $200,000 US dollars. In 2009, we’ve already beaten that total, a month out from Relay, and Event Chair Fayandria Foley has raised the bar to $250,000 by the time Relay itself takes place.

Relay for Life Teams form in February and March and they fundraise by holding events in Second Life from March through July. It started on March 14 at the 2009 Relay for Life of Second Life Kick Off Party. And it all culminates with the Official Relay for Life overnight Relay on July 18-19, 2009. Team members build and gather at their team campsites, walk the Relay for Life of Second Life track, enjoy live music, participate in fun events, and explore the many Relay sims as the event runs overnight and into the next morning.

Why is Relay for Life international?

The mission of the American Cancer Society is to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. Cancer knows no boundaries. It is increasing as a leading killer globally, especially in the developing world. Because cancer is a global health problem, this mission extends around the world.

History of International Relay for Life (IRFL)

In 1996, in response to requests from international cancer organizations, the Society extended the first license for International Relay to Cancer Research UK. The successful adoption of this unique event in the United Kingdom has led to a formal International Relay program providing training and technical assistance to cancer organizations world wide.

Today, the American Cancer Society has partnered with more than 23 cancer organizations globally to license and support Relay For Life programs in other countries. Relay has proven especially important to countries at the beginning stages of educating the public and even the health care communities about this deadly and often preventable disease.

Where do the funds raised through IRFL go?

In each Relay Country, the funds are raised in support of the licensed organization’s own cancer control programs, services and research. These organizations also agree to contribute a percentage of gross income from Relay to the Global Cancer Fund of the American Cancer Society which supports cancer control programs in developing countries that would not otherwise be possible.

Where Are Relays Held Throughout the World?

Relays For Life events were held in 20 countries in 2008 and will be held in 21 countries in 2009. Country names (and year of their launch of Relay) are listed below:

Australia (1999)
Brazil (2006)
Canada (1999)
Denmark (2006)
France (2006)
Germany (2005)
Guatemala (2004)
Honduras (2004)
Jamaica (2004)
Japan (2007)
Luxembourg (2006)
Malaysia (2005)
the Netherlands (2006)
New Zealand (2001)
Philippines (2004)
Portugal (2005)
South Africa (2005)
Taiwan (2004)
United Kingdom (1996)
United States (1985)

Sources

International Relay for Life

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PAR/Content/PAR_1_3_International_Relay_For_Life.asp

ACS International Marketing Brochure:

http://www.cancer.org/downloads/AA/International_MarketingBrochureIRFL.pdf

For current International Relay dates visit: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/par/content/PAR_1_3x_International_Relay_For_Life_Dates.asp

For current International Relay partners visit: http://www.relayforlife.org/relay/inctp
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For more information please contact one of the following people: Poppy Zabelin, RFL International Relations Chair – poppy_zabelin@yahoo.co.uk; or Catrine Dreamscape, RFL Public Relations Chair – bstg2001@live.com ir IM them in world