Last weekend I missed my Team Challenge run, but for a very good reason. I was helping my mom at the Relay for Life event in her town.
She’s on the planning committee for this event each year, in charge of registrations, online set-up and accounting. So each year I plan my schedule so I can be there on her crew to help with everything. I’m always a little more ambitious in my running planning than what I actually accomplish, but that’s okay. The fundraising aspect is more important in this case.
In the days leading up to the event we sort and organize hundreds of t-shirts so we can give those out to registrants. Then we make sure people who sign up at the event are entered into the system and we input donations that are received throughout the event so we can have a running tally for everyone upon event closing. It’s a lot of work and after a while our brains our completely fried, but I love it!
I did manage to run about 5 miles total over the course of two days, but much of the time was spent like this:
I did get to walk the Survivor/Caretaker Lap to kick off the event with my mom:
Plus I got to run a few miles on Friday evening and a couple more early Saturday morning.
There are some people that run, some that walk and some that ride in strollers. There are people that sell treats on the sides of the track and all their fundraising goes to the American Cancer Society. There are little dancing girls performing at various times, which means they have family members that come to watch and contribute to the cause. There are bands that play. There is a DJ during band-less times. There are luminarias glowing around the track at night to honor/remember those who have battled cancer. There is a reverence and an energy all at the same time. It’s just a super cool event with a great atmosphere.
Have any of you ever done a Relay for Life event? And isn’t my mom super-cute?
Jill Will Run 
You and your mom are too cute! I haven’t done Relay for Life yet, but am planning to this year.
I couldn’t do it without you, Jill. I love the atmosphere too, and I especially love sharing it with you! Thanks for being my number 1 support system!
I love being your support system… because you’re my support system!
How fun! Love the pic of you and your mom at the event! I did a few Relay for Life events back in high school and college. They are really cool events!!
That other lady in the picture is my neighbor Luann. She lives behind me and is a more recent survivor. She has gone through chemo and radiation only to have it return, and is still fighting.
Thank you for clarifying who that is! I’ll edit the caption! 🙂
I was wondering who that redhead was?
“and some other lady. (edit, this lady is legit)” lol at you 🙂
your mom is awesome. i was on the local r4tc committee for 2 years back home but not since i was sent to KY (kinda hard). it is a crazy hectic couple of days but so fun! i love the new shirts – i hope they continue to switch up the design… i got the same shirt 2 years in a row with the rows of ribbons…
Yeah, I’m an uber-dork… “Look… random stranger!”
I think you’d look really cute with hair that color red! 🙂
My parents do the Relay up in Alaska in celebration of my dad’s Leukemia survival. We were able to go and watch the opening ceremony one year while visiting and it was so touching to see all of the candles surrounding the track, lit for survivors and victims.
Your mom is very cute – and so are you! Magically red haired and all 🙂
I like the ‘some other lady’, too funny!
I haven’t done relay for life, but I have a friend who travels to a few different ones on the East Coast every year and he loves them. They always sound like so much fun.
There are a few people that participated in our Relay event that also hit up all the other ones in the area. That’s such awesome dedication!
I have not done one but my sister is heavily involved in the one near her town. It is a ton of work from what she tells me so I tip my (running) hat to you. And yes, your mom looks super cute. Good for you, Jill. (They always seem to schedule them around here on weekends that I am away.)
How much did you guys raise?
It is a ton of work, since it’s a fundraiser and people are trying to collect their monies all through the event. The event is done all through the evening, people sell goodies and have contests. They raise money and bring it to my mom and me to input. We sort it, count it and enter it into the system so by the time we have the closing ceremonies and everyone is done we have final tallies. Well, as final as they’ll be because some people keep raising money and have checks come in post event.
This year the event raised about $40,000. Not as much as the over $50,00 from a few years ago, but still incredible given the economy!