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CALLING ALL PARADISIANS, MAGALIANS AND ALL OTHER RIDGE FOLK
Its’ that time of year again. Have your running/walking shoes ready for the American Cancer Society Relay For Life event here in Paradise, CA. located in the lovely foothills above Chico. This event was started in May of 1985 by Dr. Gordon Klatt of Tacoma Washington. It is a 24 hr. marathon to celebrate survivors, remember loved ones and raise money to eliminate cancer! Relay for life has become the single largest fund raising activity for this organization. According to the American Cancer Society, “In 2006 more than 4,600 communities and 24 countries hosted a Relay for Life event, making this the largest fundraising event of any kind!”
Mark your calendars and save the date! June 5th & 6th we meet at the Paradise Relay for Life on our own “field of dreams” located at Paradise High School located on Maxwell Rd. The dream, of course, to earn lots and lots of money for Cancer research, education, advocacy, and service.
If you haven’t attended this event before, here is a little of what you will get. Music, food and fun!! The camaraderie and encouragement are truly inspiring. This is an overnighter. Yes, there will be people walking on the track all night, but no, everyone doesn’t spend the night. You can walk for as little as an hour or as long as you would like.
The way this works is the formation of Teams. Each team consists of 8-15 members who commit to walk around the track for at least an hour and raise money for donating to the American Cancer Society. There must be a team member on the track at all times. The teams set up booths for the teams to use as a rest and refreshment area, often with items to sell to raise even more money. A lot of thought and imagination go into these booths as a theme is chosen and decorating done to liven and enhance the excitement of helping to find a cure for cancer. Each member will receive a T-Shirt to commemorate the event with a contribution of $100. I would wager that we all know someone or are someone who has been touched by cancer.
Beginning at 10:00am with an Opening Ceremony which includes the Survivor’s Lap. The first lap around the field will be folks who have survived this wretched disease and reflect the joy of living. What an Awes0me sight! Continuing through the day a continual stream of walkers participate on the track.
As evening approaches, folks begin to set up the Luminaries. These have all been purchased and decorated to honor a loved one who has battled cancer. The cost is just $10 for these wonderful remembrances. At 9:00 the track is cleared for the Luminaria Ceremony. Then it’s back on the track for some more hoofing it throughout the night until 9:30 the next morning when the event concludes with the Fight Back Ceremony and Final Lap.
Paradise Relay for Life is in it’s 4th year here on the Ridge an last year almost $150,000 dollars was raised! Whoo Hooo!!!
The energy and spirit at this event has to be experienced to be appreciated. See you there!
But remember, there is no finish line until we find a cure!!
Great post, Donna, I like it! You’re getting the hang of it……..hang in there girl!
Thanks!! I appreciate you input.