Relay for Life 2014

What is Relay For Life?

Relay For Life is an event created by the Canadian Cancer Society. On their website they describe, Relay For Life as "an inspirational, non-competitive, 12-hour overnight fundraising event that brings you and your community together to celebrate life and fight cancer. Relay has a festival-like atmosphere that your family, friends and co-workers can enjoy regardless of age or fitness level!" There are over 16,000 teams that participate and altogether they have raised 46.5 million dollars for cancer research! More specifically, at my high school, we will be taking a day off learning to come together as a student body and raise money to help defeated cancer. We will be taking laps around the school field all day on Friday, May 30th. We will also have different bands come in and play for us and several different activities to help get everyone in the cancer-fighting mood! All that is required is donations from other like-minded individuals that want to help be a part of the movement that ends all the heartache cancer brings along by finding a cure.

Why Do I Relay?

I relay for several reasons, first of all, my loved ones have been affected by cancer. I am glad to say that some of them are survivors while others are not. It is a sad reality that half of all men will get cancer and a third of all women will get it too. It is almost impossible to not of been affected by it. I have also had a couple of friends that have been affected by it. Even at my school there are plenty of people that have affected by it. It is not something that I would wish upon my worst enemy for I know the heartbreak and sorrow that comes along with it. The ruins families and broken friendships. Also, I am trying to help find the cure to cancer so that generations after me won't have to ever worry about this mass-murder. So in short, I relay in memoriam of the one ones who have lost their battles, the ones who are victorious and also in hope of finding a cure.

My Team

For the Relay for Life 2014 I have gathered ten of my friends from school and we have formed a team where our main goal is to raise as much money as we can for this event. It is too heartbreaking knowing that day after day someone's mother, father, sister, brother, child or friend has lost the battle with cancer so we are doing whatever we can to help stop it. We are ten determined teenagers wanting to make a difference in the world by helping to find a cure. We know that we don't have the resources to be in the labs finding a cure that way but we do know that we can help by raising money but we can't do it alone. 

How Can You Help?

You can help us by donating anywhere from $0.01 to $100. We understand that most of the people reading this are not millionaires but, we do believe that you have a heart and that you would love to know that though the $5 you donated today, you have save a child's mother tomorrow. We don't expect you to donate your life savings to our cause but just a little $5-$10 is greatly appreciated. If you decide to donate more than $10, there would be no words I would be able to give you that express my gratitude for your willingness to save someone's life. If you are feeling like a big spender today and donated more than $100, then I will personally write you a note thanking you for your contribution. Also, just because this was reccomened to me by a freind, if you manage donate $500, you will get a mystery surprise! It won't be anything like a car or a brand new house, but I want to see if someone is willing to do that. Then again, if you can't afford to donate anything, not even just $5, please spread the words about what we are trying to do on social media or even by telegram if you have to. If you like the idea of what I'm doing, you can do it to! Just go to RelayForLife.ca for more information. 

Where Does Your Money Go?

Your money goes directly to the Canadian Cancer Society to help them find the cure for cancer. Not even a cent will be going to myself or to any of my teammates. None goes to our school either. 100% of it goes directly to the Canadian Cancer Society to help accomplish these tasks they have posted on their website:

• fund life-saving cancer research so that more people survive cancer than ever before
• stop cancer before it starts by promoting healthy lifestyles and advocating for policies that protect our health
• ensure no one facing cancer is alone by offering compassionate services and support to those living with cancer and their families and friends
• empower Canadians with information about cancer to help them make informed choices about their health

Where Can You find More Information?

You can find more information about the event at: RelayForLife.ca or go to cancer.ca for information about the Canadian Cancer Society as well as general information on cancer and other ways you can get involved. Below is a short video provided by the Canadian Cancer Society that briefly shows you what occurs at a relay for life event.