SPREADING HOPE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

The end of the fall semester signifies many things. It is a time for all-nighters, procrastination, cramming, take-out food, camp-outs in the library and the anticipation of a long break complete with hibernation and holiday food to comfort the tragedy called grades.  With exams coming and going, it is easy to get caught up in the stress; however Relay For Life would like everyone to take a step back and spread the gift of hope.

            For many, the holidays are filled with friends, family, good food, great company and warmth to go around.  There are so many things we have to be thankful for, just read the blog below. Most of us are incredibly fortunate to have good health, and it is something that is so easily taken for granted. However, for some the holidays are a reminder of loneliness, illness and struggle and to those, Relay would like to give the gift of hope. It’s amazing what a little hope can do.

            You might find yourself asking, how can I spread hope? It’s easy, and as cliché as it might sound, giving a simple smile, "hello" or "happy holidays" to people in passing can turn their day around.  Knowing that you are cared for, even if it is just by one person, makes a world of different, so during this season, don’t hesitate to tell your friends and family how much they mean to you.

            Relay For Life strives to bring people together to honor cancer survivors, remember those who lost the battle and fight back against a disease that has taken those we love.  And during this time, Relay hopes to inspire and instill a sense of hope to all those who have been touched by cancer.  The funds raised are the driving force behind the fight, providing the means necessary for cancer research and finding a cure. Therefore this season, there is no better way to spread the gift of hope than by donating, thus ensuring that those we care about can celebrate the holidays for many years to come.

To donate, click this link

http://www.relayforlife.org/getinvolved/donate/index

OR if you haven’t already joined a team for the spring event, get on it or create your own!!

It’s the season of giving, so let’s give to those who need it the most!

Much Relay Love and Happy Holidays,

Relay For Life at UVA

WHAT WE'RE RELAY THANKFUL FOR

What We’re Relay Thankful For….

     Coming back to school after a relaxing Thanksgiving break at home or elsewhere with the ones we love can bring much stress and anxiety. As we prepare for finals, we can easily list the frustrating things surrounding our lives, but let’s not forget all we have to be thankful for this holiday season! We asked some Relay Exec. members to tell us what they are thankful for during this special time of celebration and joy.

Relay Exec. members are thankful for…..

     …friends, family, food, fun, and fundraising for the American Cancer Society! –Katie Bailey

     …the health of my family, my friends, and myself as well as the opportunity to be a part of such an amazing event as Relay For Life. – Erica Robertson

     …all of the cancer survivors in my life! – Zoe Hardy

     …the opportunity to work with everybody to make this the most successful Relay at UVA ever so we can Fight Back against cancer! – Keanan McGonigle

     …my mother's strength in winning her battle against breast cancer. – Michelle Flewitt

     …all of the wonderful Relay For Life Executive Committee Members that work so hard to make Relay For Life at UVa such a successful event!!! – Zoe Hardy

     …the fact that so many people come together to fight against cancer, because we haven’t lost hope. – Alyson Richardson

     As we all dive into our last class assignments and exams, let’s remember those blessings in our lives, big and small. Happy (late) Thanksgiving, and Happy Holidays to all!

RelayLove,

Alyson Richardson

KICKOFF WEEK 2012!

Relay for Life had its jam-packed Kickoff Week last week that was full of awesome activities! Events ranging from giving out free cake to dorm performances by UVA’s finest a cappella groups were all designed to promote Relay For Life at UVA. Wednesday, Relay gave out free birthday cake to serve as a yummy reminder as to why we Relay. While this was going on, we were “Combatting Cancer” by giving out free Campus Cookies at the South Lawn. There was also a Lemongrass Night where students brought in Relay flyers and got $2 off of their favorite Thai and Vietnamese food. To end Wednesday, there were great dorm performances by AVP, Virginia Belles, and the New Dominions at both Old and New Dorms.

trivia questions on the American Cancer Society and free lollipops at Clark were given out to help students remember those who had fought cancer in the past. In the South Lawn, we had a really cool event where had students write about why the Relay in the form of “I Relay for…” and they would get yummy Splendora’s gelato. We gave out more food also as later in the day we gave out free Jimmy John’s at Clark! Relay also took over O-Hill that night with our “Take a Bite out of Cancer” Night! It was cool because students could pick up ribbon supporting specific types of cancer they wanted to support against like breast cancer and leukemia and they put the on their backpacks to show support!

On our last day, Friday, we had students pledge on what they would do to fight cancer! This got a lot of interaction with students and made them realize that they could do a lot in this fight. And we finished Kickoff Week with a late night bake sale at Beta Bridge selling late night snacks. 

Kickoff Week was a great success as over $1,750 was raised between canning, the late night bake sale, and online donations. 73 new participants were registered and 6 new teams were also created! Congrats to Relay Exec for doing a fantastic job in promoting Relay at UVA and pushing towards our goal of $113,000!

RelayLove,

Relay For Life at UVA

FIGHT BACK!!!

Click on the link below and check out the awesome video made by Publicity committee members Kelly Henderson and Alyson Richardson below! We can all think of someone whose life has been affected by cancer in some way, and that is why fighting back is so important. It's time to take a stand and say cancer has done enough! The Relay For Life movement is all about hope, and continuing to fight back each and every day until cancer is defeated. So many great steps have been taken already in research, and it all wouldn't be possible without all the people who decide to fight back.  As Relay For Life at UVA wraps up Kickoff Week, don't forget to make your pledge to cancel out cancer, and stop by our Beta Bridge bakesale between 12-2am for some delicious treats! You won't want to miss out! Join UVA's largest student run philanthropy today, and sign up at www.relayforlife.org/uva to FIGHT BACK against cancer! We can all make a difference by saving one birthday at a time :)

Relay Love,

Relay For Life at UVA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnvWgNPBeg8&feature=g-crec-u

Why do you RELAY???

Check out this AMAZING and INSPIRING video that the Survivorship Committee put together! This video features Relay For Life Exec. Committee members Leigh Barie, Suzanna Fishman, Corey Elfman, Annie Forest, Natalie Lesgourgues, and Morgan Angotti, and their story about why they chose to join the Relay For Life movement. There are so many reasons why people relay: battling cancer themselves, having a loved one battle cancer, or just wanting to fight for those who can't anymore. Learn about how cancer has personally touched and affected these young people's lives. Throughout this lifetime, 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will be diagnosed with cancer. Join the Relay For Life movement today (www.relayforlife.org/uva) and help to change this statistic! Cancer can attack a mother, father, grandma, grandpa, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, close friend, or even you. HOO will you relay for this year???

Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back.

Today marks the start of Kickoff Week for Relay For Life! There are SO many exciting events going on between now and Friday, you don't want to miss out! Today there have already been exciting events such as free Campus Cookies on the Lawn and free birthday cake in front of Clark Library to celebrate all the victories that have been won over cancer. Be sure to stop by our other events going on this week, and check out the picture above for the details.  Something that Exec Committee is particularly excited for is the Cancer Panel going on in Nau 211 Thursday at 5pm.  This event will be extremely useful as you learn about how you can take steps in your life to prevent cancer, and there will also be some delicious Take It Away sandwiches too! Hoo doesn't love free food?!

Relay also has some great competitions going on this week that you won't want to miss out on! Sign up for Relay For Life today at www.relayforlife.org/uva and take part in our Individual Fundraising and Team Recruitment competitions. Winners of each competition will have $50 automatically donated to their fundraising efforts. Hoo doesn't want free $$$?! 

In addition, yesterday marked an exciting day for Relay For Life as we hit $12,000 in fundraising!!! Join us today in our fight against cancer as we continue to climb to reach our $113,000 goal. Watch the video Publicity made below (you may see some of your friends or yourself in it!) and CELEBRATE the victories that have been made against cancer and the victories that will be celebrated in the future!

Relay Love,

Relay For Life at UVA

On your mark… get set…. RELAY!

As you can see, Relay is off to an amazing start this year! The UVA community is well on its way towards another great year; one that is full of more hope and fighting than ever before. With 75 executive members, this year’s committee is one of the biggest and baddest we’ve seen. So look out, there are huge things in store for 2012-2013!

Already, there have been many firsts this year from new events on the scene to skyrocketing turnouts and participation. On September 22, Relay kick-started the year with their first ever benefit concert, “Concert for a Cure,” featuring four of UVA’s best a cappella groups. Many thanks to AVP, The Virginia Sil’Hooettes, Hoos in Treble, and the New Dominions for putting on a phenomenal show and helping us raise over $2000 dollars for the American Cancer Society.  

It doesn’t stop there.  Relay hosted their 4^th annual Fight Cancer 5k on October 13^th. Bright and early, crowds began to gather in Monroe Plaza, and with 440 people registered, there were over 100 more participants than last year. A special shout out goes out to all those who ran despite their numb fingers and toes.  That morning, we raised over $2600 for the ACS, but the community’s willingness to share why they relay was equally inspiring. Check out the picture below; you might be in it!

We’re just keeping it coming… Although it is only a few months into the school year, UVA’s Relay for Life has already fundraised over $11,000 dollars.  We still have a lot of work to do to reach our goal of $113,000 but with all the planned upcoming events, we have high hopes of achieving that and more. We’re incredibly excited for the big spring event, there are already 65 teams and 200 people registered, and as we get closer and closer to the spring we can’t wait to see how high those numbers will jump! If you haven’t signed up, get to it! Come Relay with us!

Relay Love,
Relay For Life at UVA

One Last Push Towards A Relay to Remember

Well, it’s been a fantastic year, but we’re not finished yet! We have just hours to go until the event of the year: Relay For Life. It’s time, however, to remember, remember that we Relay for those battling cancer day by day, those who won, and those who lost. We have survivors within our own community, and today we’re going to explore just one story, and, hopefully, get inspired to bring in those last few dollars right before the big night.

Leigh Barie, a second year here at UVA, has been around the track and back; battling a brain tumor at the very young age of ten. She recounts that after taking a few too many falls at a family ski trip, she exhibited signs of a concussion. After a few tests, she remembers hearing that “I was shockingly diagnosed with brain cancer and within a month I found myself on the operating table at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, fighting for my survival against impossible odds.” Can you imagine? A family ski trip turned towards the absolute worst-case scenario. I, for one, am trying to understand what it must have been like for Barie, to hear words no-one should ever hear, let alone a ten-year-old little girl.

Thankfully, Barie had a wonderful support group behind her during this incredibly difficult time of her life, a group lead by her own mother. Barie recounts, “Although I will forever be indebted to the doctors and nurses who were my own personal miracle-workers, giving me a second chance in life, it is my mother who will always be my hero.  It was in the hospital that I came to realize the overwhelming power of a mother's love, for only she could tenderly comb through what was left of my tangled hair, matted with blood and pieces of flesh; only she could look at my swollen and battered face and not burst into tears, always keeping a brave face on for my sake; only she could sleep in a chair by my side, never letting go of my hand.” Her mother, through thick and thin, was there for her. Even to this day, Barie holds and incredible amount of respect and love with her mother, and these two incredible women share a bond with a strength not often seen.

As we Relay, we must remember WHY we Relay. During that first, momentous lap, let’s keep in our hearts the memories of Barie and her family, the stories we all hold, the memories we all have. Remember that this Relay just isn’t about raising money (although it is incredibly important). Relay is about recognizing that Cancer Never Sleeps, So Neither Do We. We walk to share the cause, and bring hope to those who suffer, as well as those who survive.

Let’s have the best Relay ever everyone,

Relay Love,

Relay For Life at UVA

Cupcakes for Relay: What Could be Sweeter???

Now, as we get closer and closer to the BIG NIGHT, it seems appropriate to throw out a little shout out to a local cupcake shop that has shown an incredible amount of support for Relay For Life at UVA.

Tara Koenig, owner of SweetHaus on Main Street, has been supporting Relay for the past few months by donating a portion of the profit for every cupcake with purple frosting to Relay For Life at UVA. Her incredible generosity has provided a huge boost for fundraising, and it seems fitting that in the final countdown we get to know really who Tara Koenig is, and what prompted her to get involved with Relay here at UVA.

When asked about how she became involved with Relay at UVA, she recounts that she was sought after by students from Relay looking to see if she was interested in a fundraiser. As she says, “[I] was happy to be asked and to be able to offer support.” These cupcakes have not only been sold in the shop, but also by students on grounds to, not only raise funds for Relay, but also (a happy side effect) to spread the word about SweetHaus. Koenig states, “I was really excited when Kate Belza offered to sell our cupcakes on the lawn.” So excited, in fact, that she increased her donation from fifty cents to seventy-five cents per cupcake! “I really appreciate their time and effort to come and pick up the cupcakes at the shop as well as spend their time selling them on the lawn.” This arrangement has definitely been a win-win for both SweetHaus and Relay.

We all know that working for Relay is incredibly satisfying, but what does Koenig find to be the best part about sponsoring this fundraiser? “Incorporating charity into something people are excited to do on a regular basis, like eating cupcakes, makes you feel good in every possible way. You are getting a sweet treat, you are donating to charity, and hopefully eventually you will have participated in saving a life! I have learned that every little cent can add up to make a difference. It’s true in business, and it’s true in fundraising!” Koenig’s business experience has given her a new perspective that we are glad to have supporting our Relay event, and we are all, I’m sure, incredibly grateful to Koenig for her involvement these last few months.

However, this stellar owner of SweetHaus isn’t just incredibly generous. Koenig, as well as many of us, has her own cancer story, and a close-to-the-heart reason for providing support for Relay For Life. Koenig lost her only sister, only 34 years old, to cancer only six years ago. As stated on her website, Koenig is “often struck by how many people I come into contact with who have also suffered the loss of a loved one from cancer.” Her own personal story has helped to forge a wonderful bond between a new, up and coming business within in the Charlottesville community and Relay at UVA. When we all work together, it is amazing what we can do to utilize the communities created by cancer to work for a cure, and many, many more birthdays.

So, maybe in these last days before Relay, you’ll find yourself out at SweetHaus doing a little bit of good not only for Relay, but also for yourself (who doesn’t love a good cupcake?)! Let’s get those last cents in right before the big night!

As always, with Relay-Love,

Relay For Life at UVA

Going Greek: ZBT Comes to the Front as a Top Team in This Year's Relay

As the March Madness tournament continues, we find ourselves left to 8 teams left as they compete to win not only the prestige of beating out 31 other teams in this fundraising battle, but also $50 dollars and points towards their team! This week, we thought it might be interesting to interview one of the teams in the top eight: ZBTeam, and get some insight onto how they feel about getting their fraternity involved in Relay For Life.

When asked about his own involvement with Relay For Life through ZBT, Matthew Fay responded, “It’s a group effort, and a great bonding opportunity.” He explained that each member of the fraternity has made an effort to get involved in fundraising. They all donate, and whenever any of them are available, they work together to raise money for Relay. However, although all the brothers work together as they battle it out for the number one spot on the bracket, as a team, they really depend on their philanthropy chair, Josh Stroker. As Bryan Kadlec, a second year engineer put it, “We have a fine philanthropy chair.” As chair, Stroker has put in hours of work not only organizing their fundraiser, ZBT’s Lemonade on the Lawn, but also making all of the baked goods to be sold himself. Kadlec reports that he is “proud of Josh more than anybody.” Stroker has said to him and other members of the fraternity that getting involved in Relay is the most amazing project he has undertaken so far in his two years here at UVA. “It was his job to organize it, but he’s definitely been the most involved. However, we all try to help him as best we can; it hasn’t been just him,” said Fay, while elaborating on the influence Stroker has had on the organization of ZBT’s awesome effort to raise money for this year’s Relay For Life.

Although Stroker has taken the lead (rightfully so) on moving ZBT up (hopefully) into the final four, it is obvious that the entire fraternity is proud of what they have accomplished so far. Alex Weinberg, a first year pledge, reports that until he pledged for ZBT, he hadn’t really heard of Relay For Life. However, he has stated that he feels “proud” of his fraternity for all the hard work they’re all putting in.

When asked about how the brothers felt about representing a greek organization, all agreed that they hoped to perhaps inspire other fraternities and sororities to get involved as well. As Fay put it, “I would really recommend other fraternities to do it, I mean, it’s a really good cause.” Kadlec agreed. “We hope to start a trend.”

Confident in their chance at the title of March Madness Champion for 2012, the brothers present during the interview joked around about why they thought it would be incredible to win. Fay stated, “It’s not a competition,” only to be quickly countered by Kadlec, who earnestly insisted it was. “However,” he qualified soon after, “If we win, it means we raise a lot of money.”

ZBT is quickly emerging as one of the most successful teams in this year’s Relay event. Let’s all try to share the same enthusiasm as we push into the final two weeks till Relay 2012!

As always, with Relay Love,

Relay For Life at UVA