IT'S BLITZ WEEK!

Today marked the kickoff of Relay For Life at UVA's 2013 Blitz Week! Be on the lookout for so many great events on Grounds this week to celebrate the upcoming Relay For Life event on April 19th! 
Here's a schedule of events for the remainder of the week:

Tuesday 2/26

·     Minute to Win It: Relay Challenge @LAWN 11:30am-1:30pm

·     Birthday Cake @CLARK 12pm-3pm

Wednesday 2/27

·     Flash Mob @ CLARK 11:55am

·     Birthday Cake @CLARK 12pm-3pm

·     BLOOD DRIVE @ Chem Building from 1-4pm

Thursday 2/28

·     Campus Cookies Bakesale @ LAWN, 11am-2pm

·     Bar Night @ Coupes: Drink Beer, Fight Cancer

Friday 3/1

·     Luminaria Ceremony @ Beta Bridge,  8pm-10pm

ALL WEEK

·     Paint Grounds Purple

·     Penny Wars @ Thorton, 10-1pm

We are at a record number of participants right now at 812 participants and over $43,000!!! Thank you so much to everyone who has already signed up! This year is going to be our most amazing Relay yet and you don't want to miss out! Also check out this latest video from the Publicity Committee below! You don't want to miss out on all the Relay fun so sign up at www.relayforlife.org/uva today and join the fight against cancer!

Relay Love,

Relay For Life at UVA

FUNDRAISE IN FEBRUARY

Since starting back up after break, Relay For Life at UVa has made some incredible strides for the 2013 season in just a few short weeks.  There are now 700 participants for the main event and as it gets closer and closer to April 19^th, we want to see that number grow even more! So you know what that means? Keep signing up! Currently, we have raised over 33,000 dollars. Since the last blog post, that number has increased significantly, so why stop now, let’s give cancer a run for its money this year!

This month there are some amazing fundraisers going on around grounds, so be on the lookout! The Campus Cookies  “Like” Event started February 10^th and ends March 3rd.  For every “Like” Campus Cookies’ Facebook page receives, they will donate 25 cents to Relay For Life. There is not an easier way to raise money for a great cause than with the click of a button. Go to www.facebook.com/CampusCookies and “like” away.

A special shout out goes to Hair Ties for a Cure, spearheaded by Lana Hoang. So far she has raised over 700 dollars by selling these super trendy non-hair crimping ties. They make great practical gifts, so if you’re looking for a little something extra for a special Valentine of yours and want to branch away from Teddy bears and chocolates, here you go! Also if you need to add the finishing touch to your little’s basket that you know will be used, this is the perfect thing. Visit the Facebook page for more information on ordering: http://www.facebook.com/events/149029531920489/?fref=ts

The month of February is also a very important month for Relay because it is our Pledge Month.  This month we hope to see numbers sky-rocket to make this the most successful year yet. Join us by pledging to raise 100 dollars this month by signing up at https://sites.google.com/site/relayatuva/; there is still a lot of time left!

Much Relay Love,

Relay For Life at UVA

WELCOME BACK!

We hope everyone had a wonderful break.  I know I had a great break telling my friends and family members all about Relay For Life at UVA.  As classes are picking back up again, so is Relay for Life!  We want to thank everyone for your hard work and support last semester.  Now that it’s spring, it’s finally RELAY SEASON!  Keep an eye out for some random group dancing on grounds, our Blitz Week at the end of February, Relay Week right before the event, and of course, lots of purple. 

Relay For Life at UVA is officially set for April 19^th, 2013 at 6pm at Carr’s Hill Field.  So far, 96 teams have signed up for a total of 654 participants.  This is the most people ever to sign up at this time of the year.  We also have raised $29,114.52!  This is more than double the total at this point last year.  We are so excited to see these numbers increase!  Don’t stop now – keep recruiting and fundraising to make this a year a new record!  If you haven’t signed up yet, what are you waiting for?  Join the fight against cancer today!           

      Lots of Relay love and excitement,

      Relay For Life at UVA

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???