Woodstock Relay For Life: 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.

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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.

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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.