2011 VTRelay For Life Fall Kickoff

This year's first ever Fall Kickoff was a success!
It was held on October 27th inside the GLC Multipurpose Room (thanks to wonderful Blacksburg weather that kept us from being outside).  There were performances by two of Virginia Tech's a cepella groups: Juxtaposition and Soulstice
As well as a performance by The Dance Company Of Virginia Tech and the premiere of the Virginia Tech Relay Rap by some of the VTRelay Executive Committee Members.

The Hokie Bird welcoming everyone to Kickoff

The best part, aside from the Hokie Bird dancing to the rap, was hearing the fantastic story of our Guest Speaker, Robynn Jaymes.  She is one of the local morning radio personalities on 94.9 Star Country out of Roanoke, VA and a breast cancer survivor.  Robynn has also been a caregiver for her mom and father who battled cancer.  She has been a supporter of the American Cancer SocietyVTRelay enjoys having her speak at our events because she is the reason we all want to see an end to cancer, so no one has to care for a family member with cancer or battle it on their own....both of which she has done.  Robynn Jaymes is one of our heroes.

Giving Robynn her thank you gifts for being a fantastic support of VTRelay and the ACS

I know my committee, Exec and I are very proud of this year's Fall Kickoff and are looking forward to start planning the Spring Kickoff!

--
Until We Find a Cure

South Atlantic Collegiate Leadership Conference

Yesterday was the South Atlantic Collegiate Leadership Conference at Virginia Tech.  There are a total of 4 CLCs in the South Atlantic alone this year (UGA, Georgetown, VT and Coastal Carolina).
The theme for this year's CLCs are: "There Is No Place Like Hope" with of course a Wizard of Oz Theme (characters, hot air balloon, yellow brick road and all!!)

"There's No Place Like Hope"

The conference was absolutely fantastic! We got to hear about all of the other Relays in the South Atlantic Division (we have the tendency to only think about our event) and how this past year we were able to raise over $2 Million in growth as collegiate Relays in this division alone! All of the Relay's had remarkable success.  The 2010 VTRelay was presented with many National Youth Relay awards for our success:

Top Per Cap for Enrollment of 25,000+ Students at the University
#1 with $20.75 per cap
Top Number of Registered Survivors
#1 with 136 Survivors
Top Online Fundraising Event
#1 with $417,420
Top 10 Net Income
#1 with $581,656

And the biggest award received, for the 2nd year in a row:

Gordy Klatt Number One Net Income Youth Event

Presentation of the Gordy Klatt Award

Over the last 2 years VTRelay has raised over $1Million with a total of Over $2 Million in the last 10 years!!

At the CLC the VTRelay Exec members were given the opportunity to share our ideas that have led to unbelievable success with the other Relays and Colleges Against Cancer Chapters in our Division, as well as come up with new ideas.

I know that the rest of Exec and myself are incredibly excited to implement new ideas (and we've got some really good ones!) and push the 2011 VTRelay to raise over $750,000!!

--
Until We Find a Cure

2010 Fall Kickoff & Exec Retreat

Planning is well underway for the 2010 Fall Kickoff!  It is the first time we are holding a fall version of Kickoff and it's looking to be completely different from past Kickoffs.  It is going to be during the evening of Wednesday October 27, 2010 outside the Graduate Life Center and Squires Student Center.  Yup it's going to be outside, first time ever!!  There are going to be performances by a student dance groups and an acapella group, and we're going to have a local morning radio personality be our guest speaker.  Of course the Hokie Bird will be there and we'll raffle of footballs signed by Coach Beamer and the Quarterback Tyrod Taylor.  

Being outside poses different challenges for decorations that we've never faced before with indoor events but my committee has fantastic ideas to incorporate purple lights to make everything appear purple with out changing a thing.  We're hoping to turn it into a huge event and get people pumped to sign up and start fundraising as we approach the 2nd half of the semester. 

Sneak Peak for spring Kickoff:

The idea behind planning it is going to be "Go big or go home"  :)

We also recently had an Executive Committee Retreat where we got to know each other a little bit better since the committee is full of new faces through games such as: The Name Game, Red Rover, and the ball of questions.
There of course were meetings with our different groupings (Growth, Productions, etc...) but the most interactive part of the afternoon was the scavenger hunt around campus! We got to talk to people all around campus about the VT Relay For Life while taking pictures of specific items or doing specific tasks (how many people can say they've done the Hokie Pokie on the steps of Burruss?? I CAN!)
We finished the night with dinner and one of the most moving experiences I've been apart of here at Virginia Tech.  We had our own mini Remember Ceremony where we lit candles in luminary bags for those that we Relay for.  Hearing everyones' stories helped all of us realize how important Relay is to each and everyone of us.  I know this year is going to be incredible because there are so many people on Exec (and all of the committees and teams) who are dedicated to Relay in honor, support, or memory of loved ones.

--

Until We Find a Cure

Kickoff Chair 2010-2011

For the 2010-2011 VTRelay Season, I am the Relay Kickoff chair! 

This will be the 3rd Relay Kickoff I will have headed up in the last 4 years, which is unbelievable.  I am honored and ecstatic to be apart of the greatest Relay Exec in the nation! This year we're doing 2 Kickoffs instead of just one.  The goal is to make them different but still exciting.  There will be new entertainment, new guest speakers, and as much fun as humanly possible (and then some)!
It's going to be an insane semester but I cannot wait to plan 2 huge Kickoff events and help plan the largest collegiate Relay in the nation.  We will continue to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund the fight against cancer.

The 2011 Relay Executive Committee is going to be awesome!

VTRelay 2011!

--Until We Find a Cure

Almost Time To...

...Start planning and fundraising for the 2011 Virginia Tech Relay For Life!

I can't believe that classes are quickly approaching but that means that the next season of the VTRelay is also about to arrive.  I honestly cannot wait to see what great new ideas this year's committee members will bring to an already fantastic event, there is always room for growth.

This year will be my 4th and last year as a participant of VTRelay as an undergrad and it's extremely bittersweet.  I want this year to be the biggest it's ever been (which is something we've accomplished every where that I've been at VT) and arrive quickly so we can see the growth, but at the same time I never want the planning to end.   VTRelay will always hold a special place in my heart, not only because I'm a huge supporter of finding a cure for cancer but also because of all the fantastic friends I have made through Relay in the last 3 years.

There are some people that regardless of when I see them, talk to them, or work with them all we can talk about is Relay, no matter what else is going on in our lives.  I can barely get through a whole day without talking with my Relay partner in crime, Annalee, about what we are going to do this year to fundraise thousands of dollars.  We've got some awesome ideas up our sleeves from canning around town/tailgates to a live performance from some local reality tv celebrities (sorry no more info than that until we've got plans in place).  

My goal this year is to raise over a $1000 in memory of my grandmother who I lost last November to cancer.  She is my inspiration to see an end to cancer.  

Keep an eye out for a link to my vtrelay.org webpage to donate once the school year begins.  I wont be able to reach my goal with out the support and donations from friends and family.  

--Until We Find a Cure

"Stand Up To Cancer"

There are many different organizations/charities that all work towards a common goal: funding the fight against cancer.  One of these organizations is "Stand Up To Cancer".  (SU2C)

Almost 2 years ago they held a one night benefit concert on national television that allowed them to raise over $100 Million to fund cancer research.   I ordered a shirt that night, "Touched By", because my family has been touched by cancer on multiple occasions.  SU2C is now getting ready to hold another one night event concert, only this year it will be bigger.

On Friday September 10th, 2010 at 8pm EST, SU2C will hold a simulcast commercial free event on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX,VH1, HBO Latino, TV One, G4, HBO, Discovery, Health, E!, MLB Network and The Style Network.  The hosts that night will be Katie Couric, Diane Sawyer and Brian Williams.  (from: http://www.standup2cancer.org/node/4056)

Assuming it follows the same style from 2 years ago, it will be an extremely moving night of stories from every day people about their relationship to cancer and musical performances.  It's looking to be a fantastic night, and I hope everyone will watch.

At the MLB all-star game a few days ago there was a PSA shown by Jake Gyllenhaal.  If you have not seen it yet, it's extremely impressive by the actor and very moving. 

This year I have submitted my personal story to the SU2C website, to be entered in the drawing to be read on national television.  If you want to read my story click on the new tab at the top of this page: "Why I Relay".

I hope everyone who has a relationship to cancer shares their story and submits it to SU2C.

SU2C is not affiliated with the ACS, but they both share a common goal: funding the fight against cancer.  For more information about Stand Up To Cancer visit their website at http://www.standup2cancer.org/ and learn how you can get involved.

--

 all of us to stand up to cancer until we find a cure.

Making Strides

This week I started a new phase in my on going involvement with the American Cancer Society...I am the newest intern at the White Marsh offices working in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer division!

I was so excited and honored to find out that I was the one person selected for the internship out of a pool of other people interviewed (mostly college students I think).

So what is Making Strides Against Breast Cancer (MSABC)?

MSABC is an annual walk held both in major cities and smaller communities across the United States. It is a day where breast cancer survivors, caregivers and supporters walk in honor and support of those fighting breast cancer and to help raise awareness for finding a cure.   This year's event in Baltimore will be held on Sunday October 24th and is open to everyone. 

More information about the Baltimore event (or links to other events) can be found at stridesbaltimore.org.

Unfortunately I will not be able to attend this year's walk but I am doing everything I can to help make it as great of an event as possible.  I be spending the next month and half working with the MSABC employees to recruit participants and help inform the public about this great event.  If you or a loved one has been effected by breast cancer and you'd like to learn more about the MSABC walks please feel free to leave me a comment and I'll do by my best to help you in anyway possible.

--

Until We Find a Cure.

Youth Hall of Hope

Some things might have changed in April 2007 on the campus at Virginia Tech, but they wouldn't stop the 2007 VT Relay For Life event from happening.

On April 20, 2007, the VT Students, faculty, family members, and friends attended the annual Virginia Tech Relay For Life.  They did not allow the events a few short days before deter them from their goals in the fight against cancer.  The event did have a different feel but they fought on.  They were able to raise $285,505 towards finding a cure for cancer, which was an amazing accomplishment.  During the Remember Ceremony, candles were not only lit in memory and honor of cancer patients but also in rememberance of the 32 Hokies who were now watching over them, including one of the Team Captains for that year.

This perseverance helped the 2007 VTRelay become the #4 collegiate Relay in the nation and #1 per capita with $10.19 raised per participant.  This was nothing compared to the honor that was given to Virginia Tech later that year.  At the 2007 National Collegiate Leadership Summit the directors for VTRelay were presented with the American Cancer Society’s Youth Hall of Hope Award.  They became the first recipients of this award for their honor and courage to continue their event despite the events four days before.  The 2007 VTRelay demonstrated beyond words the university's motto of Ut Prosim.   In an article posted online by Relay For Life, told of how “the students at Virginia Tech University truly embodied the spirit of Relay in their actions showing that fear and anger are much smaller than Hope”. 

For the entire article about Virginia Tech's Induction into the Youth Hall of Hope follow this link. 

The following is a video posted by VTRelay on YouTube(tm) about the 2007 Virginia Tech Relay For Life:

Until We Find a Cure

 

Honoring A Great Professor

I was sitting at a Team Captain's meeting when the Surivorship Chairperson gave a presentation about how they wanted to start a campaign to honor VT professors and students who were cancer survivors.  I turned to my friend Annalee and we both had the same idea....honoring our Introductory Psychology Professor.  We immediately began planning how to surprise him with luminaries in his honor.  She went and spoke with the other Intro Psych professor and I began thinking of days to collect money.  She made flyers to hand out on Monday & Tuesday at the start of classes, that said we were putting together a surprise for our professor: we would be collecting money the next class to donate to the VTRelay in honor of our professor in the form of luminaries.

The planning went off without a hitch and we were able to raise enough money for 50 LUMINARIES!! We were stunned that we raised that much money in 2 days and that our professor never knew!

A few days later she and I began making all of the luminaries like the ones below:

For more images of the Luminaries visit my Picasa web album by following this link.

We then planned to meet early before the Tuesday/Thursday lecture and set all of them up before our professor arrived.  With the help of a few friends we were able to set them all up before most of the class even arrived and were able to see the reaction of Dr. Geller's face when he arrived to give his lecture.  The look on his face was worth all of the planning and hoping that he wouldn't find out, he was honored beyond words.  Dr. Geller is not only a fantastic Psychology professor but also a cancer survivor and a Hokie.  We were honored to have him as a professor and knew we wanted to give something back.

If you ever have the chance to give back to a survivor, I highly recommend it because they are why We Relay.

Until We Find a Cure.

2009-2010 VTRelay

Fall 2009 would bring a very different semester for me.  I made the Marching Virginians and figured I wouldn't have time to be on Relay Exec again so instead of applying to head a committee I decide that I would apply to be on a committee and bring 2 years of Relay planning knowledge to a new group of eager Hokies.  I was invited to join the Team Development Committee and to be in charge of College Recruitment.  I quickly learned that this year's participant recruitment would not be like what I had participated in a few years before.  We focused our recruitment techniques to be more personal and centered towards specific organization and we quickly saw a growth in sign ups unlike any we had seen before.

Once again we were planning on thousands of students, community members and friends & families to attend our event so we worked to get the Drillfield again.  This year however we got even more space than the year before and even more privileges with sound and lights.

On a windy April 9th, 630 teams, comprised of over 6,200 participants raised over $578,000 in the fight against cancer.  We had the honor of having Mike-E and the Afro Flow Tour attend and perform at our event, and we hope they return next year!. We are looking to be named the largest collegiate Relay again both in participants and money raised!  As always, we are living by the motto "Ut Prosim, That I May Serve".

People can still support the 2010 VTRelay for life by donating at VTRelay.org through the month of July.

Until We Find a Cure

2008-2009 VTRelay

After the 2008 VTRelay I decided I had to be on Relay Exec again and that I wanted more than anything to plan the 2009 VTRelay Kickoff and make it even bigger.  When Relay Exec applications went out I immediately submitted an application to be the Kickoff Chairperson and was welcomed back with open arms.  As soon as I could, I met with my committee members and began brainstorming big ideas to make the event grow.  We had what we thought were extremely lofty goals but we were quickly told they weren't lofty enough.  The venue had to be changed from a small banquet room to the largest ballroom on campus.  The bookstore told us they wanted to debut that year's VTRelay shirt at our event. We began preparing for 800 people to attend...a number we never expected to surpass but the estimated attendance was closer to 1000 if not more. 

However the biggest change occurred when we were told that a concert was going to be added on to the end of our event.  The 2009 VTRelay Kickoff began our relationship with Mike-E and the Afro Flow Tour.  They agreed to perform and even offered to put their tour bus on the Drillfield and meet with passing by VT Students. 

The 2009 VTRelay Kickoff event was not the only aspect that grew exponentially that year.  One day at a Relay Exec meeting we were told that our goals of $300,000 raised, 3000 participants and 300 teams would be changing...they would be changing to $500,000 raised, 5000 participants and 500 teams.  We thought these numbers were INSANE but we know we could achieve them but it would require a lot of work.  A major concern though was if we did get 5000 people to attend...where would we put them? They wouldn't fit on our tiny Johnson-Miller Track & Field...there was only 1 place on campus that could hold that many people and there still be room. The Drillfield. Our directors worked for months, going to meetings and after meetings and finally we were given the best news we could ask for, we had permission to use the Drillfield.  Planning quickly started to change the logistics of our event, but all the work was worth it.

On April 24th over 5000 people converged at the center of campus for the Largest Co-Ed Sleepover.  By the end of the summer we were amazed that we met not one, not two but ALL three of our goals.  We became the #1 Collegiate Relay For Life event in the world by raising over $512,000 which brought our grand total since the first VTRelay event to over $1million!!  We couldn't be happier to have achieved what we originally thought were the craziest goals we had ever heard.  Once again we were fast paced to continue great growth, but could we meet or even exceed our previous success??

--

Until We Find a Cure.

2007-2008 VTRelay

3 years ago I joined the VTRelay community. I had not participated in a Relay For Life in a few years and even then I had only attend 1 for a few hours.  I decided though that I would dive head first into a college RFL event by applying to be on the Team Recruitment committee.  However that didn't last long...I quickly dove deeper into the world of VTRelay.  When an offer was put out for someone to co-plan the first ever VTRelay Kickoff, I voluteered without even having a clue what the event was. 

By February 12, 2008 myself and one other brave VTRelay committee member (from the fundraising committee) had successfully put together a fantastic first annual VTRelay Kickoff.  We had secured (with the help of the Director and assistant Director) guest speakers, coordinated food, volutneers, the Hokie Bird, and advertised the event all across campus.  On a snowy/icy day approximately 400 people attended our event.

April 18th brought the 2008 VT Relay For Life, where thousands of VT students, faculty and community members participated in a 12 hour celebration at Johnson-Miller Track & Field.  We as a school and community successfully raised over $200,000 in the fight against cancer.  We were already considered the #1 collegiate Relay per capita for fundraising, and one of the largest collegiate Relay's in the nation, but we were well on our way to surpassing every collegiate Relay. VT Students don't participate in anything haphazardly, we always give 100% especially when we can represent our school's motto:

Ut Prosim: That I May Serve. 

I had caught the Relay For Life bug and it was only just beginning to grab hold of me.

Until We Find a Cure

Blogging for Hope

I've always wanted to find a reason to start a blog and I think I've finally found that reason.  I have friends who blog about sports, friends who blog about their travels, and friends who blog about their day-to-day life.  None of those interested me enough to blog about (don't get me wrong I love sports, I love visiting new places, and I sometimes have an interesting life), so instead I've decided to blog about what a lot of people call....my biggest passion:

Relay For Life

I have been a part of the VT Relay For Life for the past 3 years, and not just as a participant.  I have planned and recruited participants for the largest collegiate Relay in the nation.  Three years ago I co-planned the first ever VTRelay Kickoff, two years ago I headed the VTRelay Kickoff Committee, and last year I was a member of the super successful Team Development Committee.  None of those wer small jobs, and none of them should be taken lightly.

This blog will be about the success of the VT Relay For Life, why I Relay, and everything else to do with finding a cure for cancer.  I know I'll see a cure for cancer in my lifetime.

Until We Find a Cure.