I’m please to announce to all of my friends, followers, music lovers and supporters of the real life non-profit charity organization know world-wide as “Relay for Life” that I will be DJ on behalf of the Relay for Life in Second Life on Saturday July 16th, 2011. My DJ Flyer for this event that I will be distributing to all of my friends, followers, colleagues, etc. in Second Life is noted below:
Relay For Life of Second Life (“RFL of SL”) is the largest run non-profit real life charity that does events and raises money within the virtual world know as Second Life. For those of you who are not aware of Relay for Life I’ll repost a short history about RFL that is part of the information package that is use to spread awareness to people within Second Life:
“History of Relay – Celebrating Hope
One person can make a difference. Nowhere is that more evident than with the story of the American Cancer Society Relay For Life, which began in Tacoma, Washington. In the mid-1980s, Dr. Gordy Klatt, a Tacoma colorectal surgeon, wanted to enhance the income of his local American Cancer Society office and to show support for all of his patients who had battled cancer. He decided to personally raise money for the fight by doing something he enjoyed – running marathons.
In May 1985, Dr. Klatt spent a grueling 24 hours circling the track at Baker Stadium at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma. He ran for more than 83 miles. That first year, nearly 300 of Dr. Klatt’s friends, family, and patients watched as he ran and walked the course. Throughout the night, friends donated $25 to run or walk with Dr. Klatt for 30 minutes. His efforts raised $27,000 to fight cancer.
While circling the track those 24 hours, Dr. Klatt thought about how others could take part in his mission to fight cancer. He envisioned a 24-hour team relay event that could raise more money to fight cancer. Over the next few months, he pulled together a small committee to plan the first team relay event, known as the City of Destiny Classic 24-Hour Run Against Cancer.
In 1986, with the help of Pat Flynn – now known as the “Mother of Relay” – 19 teams took part in the first team Relay event on the track at the historic Stadium Bowl and raised $33,000. An indescribable spirit prevailed at the track and in the tents that dotted the infield.
Since then, Relay has grown from a single man’s passion to fight cancer into the world’s largest movement to end the disease. Each year, more than 3.5 million people in 5,000 communities in the United States, along with more communities in 20 other countries, gather to take part in this global phenomenon and raise much-needed funds and awareness to save lives from cancer. Thanks to Relay participants, the American Cancer Society continues to save lives.
UNTIL THERE IS A CURE. . . .WE RELAY!!
The theme of this years RFL campaign within Second Life is “Season of Hope” and a brief description from the Second Life information package is as follows:
“Get ready to Relay!
After four months of fundraising, Second Life® Relayers will be gathering on July 16-17 for the seventh annual Relay For Life® of Second Life track event to CELEBRATE, REMEMBER and FIGHT BACK.
The track covers 34 of the 42 Relay sims. It brings to a close the very biggest and best Relay For Life fundraising season ever in Second Life with over 3,000 volunteers and team members, and 130 teams who have so far raised an amazing US$304,000.
Stingray9798 Raymaker ( in real life Jeff Montegut, the American Cancer Society representative in Second Life) said: ‘Thanks to the tremendous support of our volunteers, teams, committee members, and corporate partners, we have already passed our goal of
raising US$300,000, which is also the most money ever raised in a single Relay season in Second Life. This means more money that funds the mission of the American Cancer Society – research, education, prevention, patient support and global advocacy. I’m confident that this year’s success means that we have entered a new golden era of Relay For Life in Second Life, and I can’t wait to personally thank everyone at the event this weekend!’
New this year
The theme of this year’s Relay is ‘Seasons of Hope’, a theme that has inspired some of the most imaginative events and builds ever during the four-month season of team fundraising events.
This year there are some exciting innovations. For example:
– a special ‘Teams R Us’ clubhouse where teams can hold events away from the track so that they can celebrate without lagging the track sims. The Event Day committee has a list of dj’s who are standing by and ready to be reserved by the teams.
– Two sponsored theme laps. These are sponsored by KittyCatS and Amaretto Breedables, both of whom have already raised large sums for Relay by launching limited edition ‘Seasons of Hope’ kitties and horses.
– A Relay For Life of Second Life Visitors Guide to help visitors navigate the sims.
Introduction to Relay
Visitors who are new to Relay should head straight for the Welcome Area: http://slurl.com/secondlife/RELAY%20FOR%20LIFE/94/124/22 where there is a lot of helpful information to help them get started and where there will be volunteer greeters to answer questions and give out the 2011 Visitors Guide.
The Welcome Center is surrounded by over 95 flags of real world nations represented by team members, volunteers and supporters. There is information in different languages to help visitors from different parts of the real world to get oriented.
OPENING – The event opens at 10:00am on Saturday with the Opening Ceremonies, where the Fundraiser Club Banner Awards for 2011 will be presented to the teams by APinkSwan Beauchamp, the 2011 Awards Committee Lead.
CELEBRATE – Over 150 cancer survivors and caregivers have registered to take part in the ‘honor walk’ which will start immediately after the opening ceremonies, followed by the team spirit lap.
REMEMBER – At 9:00pm the track sims are turned to midnight to light up the thousands of luminaria (candles) along the track, each representing a survivor or someone who has passed from cancer. For one hour people walk the track in silence as the dedications are read out.
FIGHT BACK – at 6:00am is the Fight Back Ceremony when people gather together to make a personal pledge to help fight cancer. It might be by pledging to have a regular breast exam, to follow a healthy diet, or to stop smoking.
VICTORIOUS – the event runs through to noon on Sunday. The Closing Ceremonies take place at 10:00am followed by the ‘Take THAT, Cancer!’ victory lap at 11:00am.
Themed laps
There are some imaginative themed laps between the main ceremonies. On arrival at the track visitors will see signs up above them that display the current lap theme.
New themes to Relay are the ‘Purrfect Pets’ lap sponsored by KittyCaTS when avatars can wear animal print, neko ears, tails or be an animal or furry avatar; and the ‘Ride Your Favorite Horse’ lap sponsored by Amaretto Breedables when they can ride their favorite horse or wear their horse avatar.
Other laps include ‘Winter Nights’, ‘Spring Fling’, ‘Beach Party’ (summer), ‘Fall Fashion’, ‘The Power of Purple’, ‘Midnight Masquerade’, a fantasy lap, and an international lap when people can wave their national flag or walk the lap in national costume.
Just before the ‘Fight Back’ ceremony is the ‘Up All Night’ lap when walkers can choose to wear curlers, PJs and slippers and drink some coffee to wake them up.
Event Day Chair Nikki Mathiesen says: ‘these themed laps are totally optional but fun to take part in or simply enjoy the efforts of those who do. Feel free to interpret each theme with all the creative energy that embodies Second Life!’
Off-the-track activities
Off the track there are some wonderful creative builds by some of the best of SL’s talented builders. Inspired by the four seasons, there are gardens to explore, forests to wander through, and water to sit beside and contemplate, as well as a Japanese village and a pyramid in the jungle.
And there is an abundance of activities waiting for visitors. For the active, look out for the bobsled course, ice fishing, snail racing, the bull ride, as well as the water ride, water slide, and bumper boats at the water park.
The Seasons of Hope Water Park also features the Jules Verne submarine ride and Nautilus Exhibit, Mermaid Cove Sandcastle & Cabana Area featuring Reggae DJs, Treasure Island and Navy Fort, a working pirate town and gypsy camp, navy and pirate ship battles, and surfing, sailing and fishing.
For those with Lindens rattling in their wallets, there is a shopping hamlet, silent and live auctions, an art show and sale, and raffle. NEW this year is the silent and live breedables auction. Visitors will also be able to buy the limited edition ‘Seasons of Hope’ KittyCaTS kitties and Amaretto horses, and the Linden bears.
For those who just want to sit back and chill out, there is plenty of entertainment at the Four Seasons Theatre – featuring Alice in Wonderland, Short Plays, Machinima Productions and Tribute Bands. Space is limited so contact Still Braveheart to reserve a seat.
And of course, live music … two stages house this year’s live music with performances, non-stop on the Main Music region and on the country music region, where visitors can listen while they shop the auctions.
MamaP Beerbaum, 2011 Event Chair, said: We have had an amazing season. Our volunteers have worked non-stop, their commitment and dedication have never wavered! We are looking forward to Relay Weekend, where we will come together to Celebrate, Remember, and Fight Back. Relay For Life of Second Life has given the rest of the world reason to take notice! We have proved that in this virtual environment, amazing things can happen and we CAN make a difference! Congratulations to each and every avatar that was involved in this year’s relay!’
MEDIA NOTES
About Relay For Life of Second Life
Relay For Life® is the signature fundraiser of the American Cancer Society. Relay For Life of Second Life (RFL of SL) is an annual activity that takes place in Second Life® in July each year. Volunteers form or join teams to have fun while fundraising and raising awareness from mid-March through mid-July. In July teams build campsites and walk a track, just like in a real world Relay. The main RFL of SL track event this year will take place on July 16-17. In 2010, RFL of SL raised US$222,000 for the American Cancer Society and this year’s total has reached US$304,000 before the start of the track event. In April 2011 the all-time total amount raised since RFL was launched in Second Life reached one million US dollars. The funds raised go to research, advocacy, patient services and programs, with 12-15% going to international projects. Just as in the real world, RFL of SL is an international event. In 2011 the number of countries represented by team members, volunteers and supporters has grown to over 95!
The premier sponsors of Relay For Life of Second Life in 2011 are: Arcanum, ByKay, Peace Haven Communities, and BS’s Bring A Friend.
FOLLOW US on:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/RelayForLife_SL
Facebook: http://facebook.com/rflofsl
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 Jennifer Curtau (RFL of SL PR Co-Chair jennifer.curtau@gmail.com).”
All funds raised in Second Life on behalf of RFL goes to the following organizations in real life to help find a cure for all forms of cancer:
“Research
The American Cancer Society is the largest source of
private, nonprofit cancer research in the united
states, second only to the federal government in
total dollars spent. To date, the Society has invested
$3 billion in cancer research and 40 American Cancer
Society-funded researchers have been awarded the
Nobel Prize, the highest accolade of scientific achievement.
The Society has been involved in virtually every major
cancer discovery of the past half-century, including:
*Confirming the link between cigarette smoking and lung cancer
*Demonstrating the effectiveness of the Pap smear in detecting
cervical cancer earlier
*Proving the safety and effectiveness of mammograms in detecting
breast cancer at its earliest stage
*Defining the structure of DNA
*Creating hormonal therapy for prostate cancer
*Identifying the genetic link for breast cancer
Our past triumphs only deepen our resolve to push ever forward in the battle
against cancer.
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Advocacy
The American Cancer Society Action Network (ACS CAN) is the Society’s nonprofit,
nonpartisan sister organization that consists of the grassroots network of volunteers working on the local. state & federal levels to pass meaningful legislation, ACS CAN advocates for stronger public health laws to fight cancer
and do equal access to quality health care for all people.
If you or someone you love is facing cancer, please call us anytime, day or night at:
1-800-ACS-2345
or visit us at:
http://www.cancer.org
No matter who you are, we can help.
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Education and Community Services
We know that having cancer is hard, but finding help shouldn’t be. that’s Why the American Cancer
Society provides free Education programs and support services to help improve the quality of life
for all cancer patients and their families. With a presence in more than 3,400 communities across the country, the Society helps all people facing the disease, when and where they need help. A sampling of the many resources the Society Offers thanks to dollars raised through Relay For Life
includes:
* Road to Recovery- A series of online education classes for people with cancer and there loved ones
* Hope Lodge- Lodging help when traveling far distances for treatment
* Reach to Recovery- A one-on-one support program that matches trained breast cancer survivors with those newly diagnosed with disease to give emotional support and guidance
* I Can Cope- A series of online educational classes for people with cancer and their loved ones
*Clinical Trials- A free and confidential service that help cancer patients find a cancer clinical
* Look Good…Feel Better- A free program dedicated to teaching woman techniques to help restore their appearance and self-image during cancer treatments
*Man to Man- A program that offers free information and support to men with prostate cancer
* National Cancer Information Center- Free Information any time, day or night at:
1-800-ACS-2345 or http://www.cancer.org
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Resources for Healthy Living
The American Cancer Society American Health Challenge can help you get and stay healthy. Programs include the Great American Smoke Out, Great American Health Check and Great American Eat Right Challenge.”
I’ll put up a few pictures of the DJ Stage that I will be performing at on Saturday July 16th at 10 pm to 11 pm PST (i.e. SLT) to give you and idea what this years stage area looks like:
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