Tuesday 26 May 2015

Drive-thru pledge-a-thon will return to Heart FM

Morning of June 5 is date to stop by parking lot at 104.7 FM

More great news for Relay For Life 2015 !!
For several years, Liz Wismer-VanMeer hosted a drive-thru pledge-a-thon in the parking lot of Heart FM leading up to Relay For Life. We all remember, Liz was morning co-host / news anchor -- alongside Paul Laing at the Woodstock radio station. 
When at the station, Liz always gave big promotion to the Canadian Cancer Society and her team Girlz Night Out.
Today, Liz works for the Canadian Cancer Society in many fundraising roles, including Relay For Life.  She requested permission from Heart FM (104.7 FM) to host a drive-thru event again this year, and it's going to happen again !!!

"Heart FM has graciously allowed me to come back again this year and hold the fundraiser on Friday June 5from 6 to 9 am at the Heart FM parking lot. I will be there shortly before  6 am with coffee from Tim Hortons," said Wismer-VanMeer in a committee email.

Thanks again to Heart FM and its staff. Be sure to stop by to say 'HI!' on June 5.

VOLUNTEER EFFORTS
In the meantime, if you would like to volunteer in any capacity for Relay For Life, be sure to contact the CCS office in Woodstock. If you have a background in bookkeeping or carpentry, there's a spot for you on the Relay organizational team. 




Friday 22 May 2015

Purchase your Luminary for Relay For Life

LUMINARY Sales!
There are several places over the next few weeks to purchase a Luminary leading up to the June 13th Relay For Life.
The picture here is the display at Scotiabank on Dundas Street. Both Woodstock branches are selling Luminaries again this year.
Saturday, May 23rd is the giant Rummage Sale at the Foodland parking lot on Dundas. You may purchase a Luminary there.
May 22 and 23 are the blitz days. Check out Foodland, Food Basics, No Frills and other grocery / retail stores for a booth set up promoting Luminary sales.
For the next 3 Saturdays, you may also purchase your Luminaries at the Woodstock farm market on Saturday mornings at the Woodstock Fairgrounds on Nellis Steet.
You can also buy Luminaries at Relay For Life at CASS on Saturday, June 13.
Marie Bowerman (right in photo) and her committee continue to do a fantastic job on this integral part of Relay For Life - honouring those who lost their battle with cancer and also recognizing survivors and those who continue on their journey for a cure.







Wednesday 13 May 2015

Lots of information at 'Relay For Life' Information Night

Exactly one month before Canadian Cancer Society fundraiser in Woodstock

Fundraising should be personal -- explain why you Relay 

The Relay For Life 'Information Night' on May 13 marked exactly one month from the 2015 event in Woodstock in support of the Canadian Cancer Society.
It was a good opportunity for Oxford community office manager Jan Cunningham to stand behind a podium and talk about fundraising with the many registered participants attending the session at Fanshawe College.
“When working on your fundraising plan – make it personal and you'll raise more money. Tell your friends and family why you Relay,” said Cunningham, who added that this philosophy also works when you're not face-to-face with your hopeful sponsors.
“Add your picture to your request on Facebook and in social media and be sure to show your gratitude as well.”
Jan Cunningham and long-time Relay organizer and CCS Oxford board member John Hunt


Relay For Life (www.relayforlife.ca/woodstock) is at CASS high school on Saturday, June 13 with Opening Ceremonies planned for 6 p.m. This is actually a time change from previous years when Relay was a 7 p.m. - 7 a.m. walk around the track and the Opening Ceremony was at 6:45.
The Survivors' Lap will be immediately after an address from organizers and will begin around 6:30.
With Relay For Life now ending at midnight and with participants wanting to enjoy as many moments as possible with the lit Luminaries, the Luminary Ceremony will now be at 8:45 p.m. (instead of 10 p.m. in past years).
LUMINARY SALES
The Luminary sales drive continues at many churches and co-ordinator Marie Bowerman notes that the best place to buy your Luminary from a retail / public location would be Scotiabank. She adds that Scotiabank in Woodstock will match the donations made dollar-for-dollar up to $5,000.
At Relay, Luminaries surround the perimeter of the track to honour those who lost their battle to cancer, but also to recognize the cancer survivors who either received a clean bill of health or continue their journey to be cancer-free.
The blitz day for promoting Luminary sales will be Friday, May 22 and Saturday, May 23. The May 23rd date is important with the gigantic Relay Rummage Sale scheduled for the Foodland parking lot on Dundas Street. (Call the office at 537-5592 if you plan on having a table -- used articles, bake sale, barbecue, etc) On those two days, you can also purchase a Luminary at tables set up at No Frills (also a significant sponsor of the Relay food tent), Zehr's and Food Basics.

PLEDGE SHEETS
Cunningham added that the Oxford community office at 65 Springbank Ave North is a great place to pick up pledge sheets.
“One statistic we often use is that 210 Canadians die from cancer every day and we're working hard to find a cure,” added Cunningham.
“We do have a lot of fun information about Relay too, including an info sheet with a game plan about how you can raise $400 in 7 days.”


In a Woodstock Sentinel-Review story published back in December (see newspaper links below), Cunningham was already creating hype for the new format for Relay For Life.
We are excited to be evolving and strengthening our signature fundraiser,” said Cunningham. “We’re looking to take this powerful event to the next level and leave Relay for Life participants captivated by the experience and engaged in the Canadian Cancer Society’s important work of creating more survivors every day. We are evolving Relay for Life to help raise more money to fight cancer and help people facing cancer now.”




2014 Sentinel-Review recap story




FUNDRAISING BARBECUE




Thursday 7 May 2015

Cancer Society has another 'promo code' for discounted registration

Poster notes a $10 reduction in registration in honour of Mother's Day

The poster below notes a $10 reduction in registration in honour of Mother's Day.
The previous promotion to register for Relay For Life at a lower fee has ended, but take note of this notice for CCS and an opportunity to register for $15 on Mother's Day.
www.relayforlife.ca/woodstock

Another reminder:
If your Relay team is planning a special fundraiser, let us know about it at: mschadenberg@rogers.com. The event will be posted here and on the Facebook group "Canadian Cancer Society's Relay For Life in Woodstock."



Friday 1 May 2015

Relay For Life meeting for registrants planned for May 13

PARTICIPANT INFORMATION NIGHT

Wednesday, May 13th
Fanshawe College cafeteria - Finkle St, Woodstock

Stop in any time between 6:30 - 8 p.m.
We are excited to have you join us for the 16th annual Relay For Life in Woodstock on Saturday, June 13th, 2015.
Relay For Life has many exciting changes and we want to make sure you know all of the details including Bank Night information, Registration times, dinner plans and we’ll let you in on some of the new plans for this year’s event!
May 13th -- is a great night to come and learn more of what you can expect at Relay For Life in Woodstock and also a great opportunity to pick up any additional pledge / banking / luminary forms, as well as have any questions answered by the Relay Crew Members and Canadian Cancer Society staff.
For more information, feel free to call the office at 519-537-5592 or email lwismer-vanmeer@ontario.cancer.ca
Hope to see everyone there!
Tel: 519-537-5592 ext. 3953
Fax: 519-537-3945
65 Springbank Ave N, Unit 3
Woodstock, Ontario N4S 8V8



Be sure to also Follow us on Facebook in our Group: 
"Canadian Cancer Society's Relay For Life in Woodstock"
If you're already a member of this Group invite your friends to also join.
Ready? Set. Relay!



UPDATE: batons, bank night, dinner menu and volunteering

Relay For Life update: food, fun and flashlights

The organizing committee for Relay For Life in Woodstock is working night and day preparing for this year's Canadian Cancer Society fundraiser set for Saturday, June 13 – working night and day even though the event has been modified to a time frame of early evening (6 p.m.) to midnight.
The CASS track will continue to be surrounded by Luminaries for a special solemn ceremony to recognize those who have passed away from cancer, and to honour those still continuing their battle with the disease.
Actually, most items on the agenda certainly remain unchanged, including an opening ceremony (6 p.m., so earlier than previous years), survivors' lap, and a tent dedicated to learning more about cancer (and cancer prevention).
Currently, as of May 1, there are 305 registrants for Relay. The format has changed, so while many people are still signing up as a team and continuing their fun and creative group efforts for fundraising, many are signing up in small groups, or as a family, plus many many more as individuals.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
IMPORTANT NEWS: 

Relay For Life Woodstock - Registration Discount Promo Code is NOW available. 

Email lwismer-vanmeer@ontario.cancer.ca or call 519-537-5592 for more information. 
With this code you can register for the 2015 event for only $10. However, Discount Promo Code expires May 4th at 11:59 pm.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

ARRIVAL TIME
It is suggested by the committee that participants arrive as early as 4:30 on event day to complete the registration process.
This year, does not really feature a formal assigned and numbered campsite system as in the past, but you're certainly invited to bring your canopies, card tables, cameras, lawn chairs, games, flashlights, awnings, IPads and IPods.
BANK NIGHT
If you have a large sum of money collected, there will continue to be a bank night – Tuesday, June 9, 5:30 – 8:30 in the CASS cafeteria.
By the way, much of this information here will also be sent through email, so be sure every year to always 'opt-in' to receiving updates from Relay For Life via email.
BRING YOUR APPETITE
At Relay, registered participants and survivors, plus all volunteers (who also have to sign in), will still enjoy a dinner. The food sponsors for 2015 remain the same as recent years as Boston Pizza is creating a large lasagna and Caesar salad plate, while Swiss Chalet has chicken sandwiches and salad. The great folks at Pita Hut will be busy again as a meal / snack supplier. Just as in past years, Tim Horton's will be part of the event with (free) coffee and hot chocolate.



Another Relay favourite is French fries from Joe's Lunch. It must be pointed out as a reminder that participants pay for the fries from the Joe's Lunch truck, but Joe and his crew donate all proceeds to CCS.
By the way, the sponsorship sub-committee report notes they have almost reached their goal of $40,000.
BATONS
If you have been collecting paper towel rolls for a craft project and now you're not sure what to do with your stockpile, you can donate them to Relay For Life as the event – as you have noticed from all the publicity posters – is re-enforcing the idea of passing a baton. You can decorate a baton and bring it with you, or donate paper towel rolls to the CCS office at 65 Springbank Ave North in Woodstock.

CHILDREN'S TENT
Part of the fun at the children's area at Relay will include baton decoration crafts. The children's zone continues this year as well, 5 – 8 p.m. with countless games and prizes, and some games actually do include counting. If you don't have children, be sure to stop by this area as Home Depot and Good Beginning's Daycare always have a lot of fun, and the popcorn lady returns with free munchies.
VOLUNTEERS
Every year, organizers request more and more volunteers. It truly takes a small army of about 200 people to make Relay For Life successful. As they say, more hands make work lighter and also requires a larger lunch order from our friends at Pita Hut. If you have time to donate to Relay, contact the CCS office as crews are needed in set up (some carpentry experience is suggested but Ryan Noels is willing to train), luminaries, food serving, registrations, and clean up after the event.


Relay For Life 2015. Ready? Set. Relay !

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, more 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. 


CONTACTS:
Kelly Jorgensen
CCS – Oxford community office
Email: Kjorgensen@ontario.cancer.ca
(519) 537-5592
Liz Wismer-VanMeer
CCS – Oxford community Office

(519) 537-5592
Sandy Smith
Relay For Life Training Walk Leader
(519) 456-5270
Bob Axon
Sponsorship committee
(519) 421-0806