Fundraising ideas and activities abound

Motivational emails contain good information
Participants of Relay For Life know about the slogan: celebrate . . . remember . . . fight back.
If you're busy collecting pledges or raising dollars through a bbq, you know the importance of this Canadian Cancer Society fundraiser.
However, it's always great to receive reminders from www.relayforlife.ca
Here is the first half of one email I received today:
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Dear Relay Participant,

After months of preparation and fundraising, your Relay For Life is just two weeks away. At Relay, you will join with your team, on the track and in tent city, to enjoy music, food, activities, entertainment and to celebrate life.

As you look ahead to the inspirational journey ahead of you, we want to help you make the most of your Relay.

• By now you have a team name, but have you thought about a theme, costumes and decorations? Be creative and show us your team spirit!
• Relay isn’t just about walking the track. It’s a party complete with activities that will get your team moving and laughing. Participate in the planned activities together or plan special activities for you and your teammates throughout the night.
• While your team needs to keep one member on the track at all times, why not plan special team laps throughout the night. What about a backwards team lap? Or a potato sack race lap?
• Start building excitement now. Get together with your team sometime in the next two weeks to get everyone energized and brainstorm last minute fundraising ideas. 

()()()()()()()()()()
There's lots of motivational material out there. See: www.relayforlife.ca/woodstock or even other CCS sites such as www.fightback.ca or www.thefearlessproject.ca

Important: New format for luminary ceremony

Luminary Ceremony requires additional volunteers

From the desk of: Bonnie Hartley

Still looking for Volunteers for the Luminary Ceremony

Hi:
I have been chosen to create the Luminary Ceremony at this year's Relay for Life on June 14. I'm hoping that you'll agree to take part in it.
I am creating a 'year of memories' and need 12 volunteers. They can be care givers, people currently going through chemo, those in remission, those who have lost someone etc. -- and a mix of ages too. Ideally I'd like the people to write their own 'memory' but here are a few that I wrote to give you an idea of what I'm looking for:

It’s January, another new year celebrated without you here. I still miss you every day.
It’s February, this month marks 5 years that I am cancer free and I am so proud of my achievement.
It’s March, I’ve just had the last of my chemo treatments. I am so thankful for the volunteers who have driven and supported me through this.
It’s April ….
The ceremony will take about 20 minutes tops and you’ll be asked to carry a luminary and follow the Piper for the first lap along the lighted path (at 10 p.m.)
Please let me know if you’d be willing to join is this ceremony, and/or if you have any suggestions as to others who might like to participate. If you have a month that is significant to you, let me know that as well.
Thanks,
Bonnie Hartley
(519) 537-5836

Keep an eye on the Facebook group page (Canadian Cancer Society Relay For Life in Woodstock) update for this luminary ceremony format change as well.

Liz Wismer plans drive-thru pledge morning

Heart FM news room news
Great news from the news room of Heart FM today!
Woodstock radio station 104.7 FM will again this year be hosting its drive-thru pledge-a-thon for Relay For Life (Canadian Cancer Society) in Woodstock. The event during the John and Liz morning show will be June 7.
Liz Wismer has been a long-time participant in Relay For Life and is captain of the team Girlz Night Out, which has a $7,000 team goal.
Here's her press release, which also promotes the Woodstock Print & Litho lunch bbq that day. The barbecue price, by the way, is $5 including a drink.

                 ()()()()()()()()

Again this year, I will be walking in the Woodstock Relay for Life.  Below is a link to make a donation online; you can also make a donation here at Heart FM during the 6^th Annual Drive Thru Pledge-a-thon on Friday June 7, between 6 am – 9 am. 

There is also a charity BBQ event at Woodstock Print & Litho June 7, from 11 am – 2 pm, which I encourage you to come out and support, and grab a hot dog or burger courtesy of Todd’s Dogs!

I set my goal big again this year…$4,000 so I need your support!

I thank you in advance and appreciate every dollar we can put towards the Fight Against Cancer !!!

Link: http://convio.cancer.ca/site/TR?px=3768006&pg=personal&fr_id=12488&fl=en_CA&et=l9HG6JGRPkrv61UabUvHCw&s_tafId=217444

Liz (Wismer) Van Meer

Morning Show Host/News

223 Norwich Ave. Woodstock, Ont. N4S 3V8

Office: 519-537-8400 ext. 232

News room: 519-537-8040

From Liz Wismer: "Again this year, I will be participating in the Woodstock Relay for Life in support of the Canadian Cancer Society.  I first got involved to pay tribute and honour my Nana who we lost to cancer on November 28, 1997 (just six weeks after she was diagnosed).  Since my first relay about 10 years ago, many more names have been added to the list of people I relay for!  Some are survivors; some are fighting the fight as I write this and others are our loved ones we lost to this horrible disease.

This year I hope to raise $4,000 on my own as the Team Captain of Girlz Night Out!  We have relayed together now for five years and I hope that we together can raise $7,000.  Please help me and my team reach our goal; help our loved ones who are fighting cancer; help us celebrate our loved ones who are survivors and help us remember our loved ones we've lost.
I walk to Remember Nana and those we have lost; I walk to Celebrate Tracey and all of the survivors; and I walk to Fight Back with all those fighters.
I thank you in advance for your support."

Barbecues, baked goods & yard sales

Relay For Life events leading up to the main event

I’m currently busy helping you set your social calendar.

- Allen (Lumber) Building Centre (Castle) on Peel Street is a long-time sponsor for Relay For Life and currently they are celebrating their 50th anniversary in Woodstock and Oxford County. Enjoy their Relay Canadian Cancer Society barbecue on Saturday, May 18, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

- On Saturday, May 25, west of Woodstock at 684743 Highway 2 (Between 11^th and 10^th Line) is the huge Fightback Bears yard sale. It begins at 8 a.m. and includes: bake sale table, lots of household items, baby items, books, clothing, toys . . .
- Fight Back Bears are also having a BBQ on Sat. June 1st with great singing entertainment, hot dogs, hamburgers salads, desserts, coffee, tea, pop and water. . . 50/50 draw, door prizes and raffle draws . . .
Where: 684743 Hwy 2 west of Woodstock

- Saturday, June 1 will be a busy day as The Rack Pack team is having its annual bbq and bake sale in the Cedarwood Plaza parking lot. The Hear Med store is next to CIBC and the sale begins at 10 a.m. and continues until 2 p.m. Besides hamburgers, hot dogs and home baked goods, this event includes the sale of the popular ‘Tougher Than Cancer’ t-shirts for $20 each. Linda thanks the many sponsors – notably M&M Meats, Miss Woodstock Restaurant and Dawson Market. Live entertainment will feature tribute act Happy Johnson.

- Also on June 1, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., the Hickson Village People team are holding a garage sale and bbq at 92 Loveys St, Hickson.

- If you attend the farm market at Woodstock Fairgrounds on June 1 and 8, plus May 25, be sure to purchase your luminaries for 2013 Relay For Life. Each luminary is $5.

- Friday, June 7 at 11 a.m. is the annual Woodstock Print & Litho (Springbank Ave South) bbq which features Todd’s Dogs of Woodstock. Burgers and hot dogs and much more. Pre-order by calling Woodstock Print at 519 537-6239.

If you have an event to add to this list, email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Read the Relay Rap update newsletter

May newsletter is a must-read
Often a 1-page newsletter is a great method to update participants of an event quickly.
The Relay For Life steering committee currently has posted on Facebook (Group Page is: Canadian Cancer Society Relay For Life in Woodstock) several information pieces and newsletters (Relay Rap as a pdf), including a request for additional volunteers to assist in the luminary ceremony at 10 p.m. during Relay on Friday, June 14 at College Avenue Secondary School.
Team recruitment news includes a reminder for Captain's Night on Wednesday, May 15 at 6:30 at Fanshawe College, but adds that the Relay's menu is complete with a choice between Boston Pizza and Swiss Chalet.
If you're thinking about participating in Relay For Life for the first time, check out the Facebook page, but you can also call myself anytime (Mark Schadenberg at 519 537-1553) or others listed on various submissions on this site.

Relay For Life

Celebrate . . . Remember . . . Fight Back

www.relayforlife.ca/woodstock

  

Captain's Meeting set for May 15

Important organizational meeting at Fanshawe College
Beth Boulard and the team recruitment sub-committee for Relay For Life have an important agenda typed up and ready for the next Captain's Night meeting on Wednesday, May 15 at 6:30 at Fanshawe College campus on Finkle Street in Woodstock.
The annual Relay For Life for the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) is June 14-15 at College Avenue Secondary School, so quite obviously Wednesday marks the 1-month deadline to motivate teams and sign up as many participants as possible. The goal is 68 teams.
With Boston Pizza on board as event sponsor, the team recruitment committee has a new corporate friend to assist in both attracting new teams and retaining past teams. Megan Porter and her Boston Pizza (431 Norwich Ave in Woodstock) crew are contributing a special team promo package. 
The Captain's Meeting is important as teams are suggested to register well in advance, but also select a camp site, set up their bank night schedule, and acquire many motivational tips and fundraising ideas. Captains learn about something new this year -- a captain's lap at midnight to recognize this integral group of volunteers. 
May 15, 6:30 p.m. at Fanshawe College
If you visit the Facebook page 'Canadian Cancer Society Relay For Life in Woodstock', you can read many of the newsletters already posted on-line. Be sure to become a 'member' of our Facebook group. For example, the menu featuring Boston Pizza, Swiss Chalet, Tim Hortons, and Scott's No Frills has already been posted. Keep in mind, if you're a team member this year, maybe next year you will want to be a team captain.
A Dream Team
There is also something called a "Dream Team' and you can learn about the parameters about reaching this level of participation.

Contact Beth Boulard -- team recruitment committee: ebaboulard@rogers.com . . . or call the CCS office weekdays at (519) 537-5592.




      

Why is Relay For Life an all-night event ?

7 a.m. to 7 p.m. -- an overnight benefit
Relay For Life is many things.
The Canadian Cancer Society fundraiser obviously raises important dollars to find a cure. The Woodstock event last year contributed a final total over $310,000. This year, $320,000 is a natural goal.
Relay For Life is 12 hours of friendship and following. Relay is remembering those who have died from cancer and celebrating with those who are winning their battle.
However, why is Relay For Life a 12-hour overnight benefit.

Summary

To learn more about Relay For Life in Woodstock, plus background information on Oxford County events in Ingersoll (June 21) and Tillsonburg (June 7) as well, be sure to read other posts on this blog site. Updates will appear in this space as June 14 approaches, including reminders about captain's nights at Fanshawe College (May 15, 6:30), stories about luminary sales, sponsorship, volunteering, the silent auction, registering as a survivor, and the logistics of setting up the camp at CASS. 

To sign up or sponsor a participant, see: www.relayforlife.ca/woodstock or call the Oxford unit office at (519) 537-5592. 

If you would like to contribute a story or promote a Relay team fundraiser, send details to: mschadenberg@rogers.com. 

Kim Whitehead

Relay For Life: co-chair

Email: kimw_1@sympatico.ca

Keri Axon

Relay For Life: co-chair

Email: keriaxon@gmail.com

Mark Schadenberg

Public relations committee

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Twitter: markroyallepage

Beth Boulard

Team recruitment committee

Email: ebaboulard@rogers.com

Bob Axon

Sponsorship committee

Email: raxon@rogers.com

Janet Bragg

Relay For Life Volunteer coordinator

Email: janet@goodbeginningsday.com

Josie Atkinson

CCS – Oxford unit fundraising

Email: jatkinson@ontario.cancer.ca

Hot dogs, t-shirts and flying squirrels

Relay teams combine efforts with giant fundraising day
A huge congratulations must be posted to thank Jason Stubbe, Beth Boulard and other committee members who organized the 2nd annual FUNdraising Day on Saturday (May 11) in the Zellers / Foodland parking lot.
I counted more than 20 tables all with proceeds to Relay For Life (June 14-15 at CASS) and the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS). Relay teams were busy selling yard sale items, new t-shirts, flowers, baked goods, popcorn, burgers and hot dogs, and part of the event also included entertaining children in attendance. The Oxford Media Group's Andrew Norris was in a flying squirrel costume and was busy reading children's stories (see picture) for a donation.

Luminary Ceremony at 10 p.m.
Luminaries were also for sale at FUNdraising Day. The luminary public sales program will continue on three Saturdays at the farm market on Nellis Street -- May 25, June 1 and June 8. The luminary dedication ceremony is at 10 p.m., and this solemn method of remembering those who have died from cancer or are continuing to battle cancer, includes a tealight candle lit at 10 p.m. (inside a bag) to light up the CASS track. Last year, almost 2,000 were sold for $5 each. Luminaries are also available at various retail locations around Woodstock or by visiting the CCS Oxford office at 65 Springbank North.

Lunch With Craig
Anyone involved with Relay can almost maintain their entire spring season of social functions by attending various Relay For Life fundraisers, including an upcoming barbecue lunch at Woodstock Print & Litho (Springbank Ave South) on Friday, June 7. You can pre-order your lunch -- and maybe for your entire office -- by dialing (519) 537-6239. Craig and Brenda Ludington have been long-time Relay For Life committee volunteers.