Monday 30 March 2015

Asking, learning and walking; read about Train Walk Leaders

Training Walk Leaders now part of CCS's Relay For Life
Across the province of Ontario, the Canadian Cancer Society's Relay For Life has created a new position on the organizing committee – a person to both motivate Relay participants and to simultaneously assist in each person's fundraising endeavours.
The volunteer Training Walk Leader organizes short group walks with individuals already registered for Relay For Life this year.
Sandy Smith (pictured here) is the Training Walk Leader (TWL) for Woodstock and her schedule is noted here.


The TWL will inspire participants and assist them in their fundraising ideas.
A CCS press release describes the TWL as: “a key source of information, guidance and inspiration as participants prepare for Relay For Life. TWL are an integral part of the Relay experience and provide face-to-face fundraising coaching and support to help ensure events realize their revenue goal through getting outside and leading walks."
As a long-time committee member, Sandy Smith is an ideal person for this role as it does combine walking for fitness and exercise along with a friendly discussion about Relay For Life.
The CCS's TWL description continues: “TWL will be trained on how to lead and execute walks for people at any physical level to build their endurance and to prepare them fully for the event.”
In Woodstock, Relay For Life has a 6-hour format on Saturday, June 13 – 6 p.m. - midnight.
“The TWL will provide a fun, supportive atmosphere for participants and provide timely fundraising coaching, tips and inspiration. . . TWL have a passion for Relay For Life and are committed to seeing participants reach their physical and fundraising goals,” said a CCS release.
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Kelly Jorgensen (pictured below) from the Oxford County community office explains the role this way:
“Now that you have registered for Relay, let’s keep the momentum going! Join us for walking sessions to prepare for Relay, have some fun, talk to other Relayers about successes, get some fundraising ideas and stay informed. The walks are roughly one hour at various times starting in April in Woodstock and are FREE!"
Please contact Kelly Jorgensen at 519-537-5592 or KJorgensen@ontario.cancer.ca to find out more details for Woodstock, but also Ingersoll and Tillsonburg – dates, times and locations!
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Watch this space over the next few days for exciting news about sponsorship for Relay For Life in Woodstock for 2015. Relay is proud to announce it has renewed an important corporate sponsor / contributor for this year's event.


Relay For Life
To learn more about Relay For Life in Woodstock – Saturday, June 13, 2014, 6 p.m. - midnight, plus background information on Oxford County events in Ingersoll (June 20) and Tillsonburg (June 6) as well, be sure to read other posts on this blog site.
Many updates will appear as Relay approaches, including reminders about fundraising events (lawn sales, bbqs, bake sales, etc.), fundraising hints, background details about registrations, sponsorships, luminary sales, volunteering, registering as a survivor, entertainment, the children's activities planned, the evening's menu choices, and the logistics of setting up 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 (Why you participate) or promote a Relay team fundraiser, send details to: mschadenberg@rogers.com. 
Ready? Set. Relay!

CONTACTS:
Sandy Smith
Relay For Life Training Walk Leader
(519) 456-5270
Bob Axon
Sponsorship committee
(519) 421-0806
Deb Moss
Relay For Life co-chair
Email: mmoss905@rogers.com
(519) 539-2288
Mark Schadenberg
Public relations committee
Twitter: markroyallepage
(519) 537-1553
Kelly Jorgensen
CCS – Oxford community office
Email: Kjorgensen@ontario.cancer.ca
(519) 537-5592
Liz Wismer-VanMeer
CCS – Oxford community Office
(519) 537-5592


Tuesday 3 March 2015

Ready? Set. Relay! Recap of the Relay Reunion

Relay Reunion was successful night for 'evolving' Relay For Life

Lots of information was provided, and many more registrations were taken on March 2 at Relay Reunion at Quality Hotel & Suites.
Relay For Life is a very large annual Canadian Cancer Society fundraiser and the Woodstock event has traditionally been in the Top 10 for the province for both number of participants and dollars raised.
The Relay Reunion featured more info on registering for Relay, along with registering survivors, promoting the sale of luminaries, signing up more volunteers (There are a countless number of areas which always need assistance.), info on children activities at Relay, and naturally many details about cancer research and prevention.
Kelly Jorgensen and John Hunt

Relay For Life in Woodstock is seeing exciting changes for 2015:
- Saturday (June 13), 6 p.m. - midnight -- instead of all-night on a Friday.
- Participants are still encouraged to form teams or groups, but emphasis is more on individual fundraising. You can certainly still bring your tent.
- The motto 'Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back.' has been retired and replaced with 'Ready? Set. Relay!' (See picture of banner)
- Instead of Captain's Meetings there are now several Relay For Life short walks so you can update your fundraising with steering committee member Sandy Smith (More details to follow).
- Relay will not have a silent auction this year.


GREAT INGREDIENTS
At the same time, the important ingredients of Relay For Life continue:
- Raising money for cancer research at the national level, while still supporting the many local initiatives.
- Honouring and recognizing 'Survivors'
- Having an opening ceremony to place the proper focus on the event.
- Surrounding the CASS track with luminaries to remember those who lost their battle with cancer and to recognize all the people who continue treatments for a clean bill-of-health.
- Entertainment on the stage.
- Family / children activities.
- Our Woodstock event continues to have great participation from local businesses, notably restaurants who supply the logistics, set up and other volunteers their lunch break on the day of the event, plus dinner for everyone registered, and additional refreshments throughout the night.
- Many many other corporate sponsors.
Deb Moss                           Sandy Smith

Maartje VanWely


Karen Hume talks to Carol at welcoming table


Contact: Jan Cunningham, Liz Wismer-VanMeer or Kelly Jorgensen at the CCS office. (519) 537-5592.
Emails:
Jan: jcunningham@ontario.cancer.ca
Liz: lwismer-vanmeer@ontario.cancer.ca
Kelly: kjorgensen@ontario.cancer.ca