November Happenings:

• Chili Cook-off! Wednesday, November 5th 6pm-8pm at Homestead High School [4310 Homestead Road] benefitting the Southwest Allen Relay. A $5 donation gets you chili tasting and a vote. Rest assured, I will not be making any chili.

• I will make a 10% donation on any cheesecake order for Thanksgiving to get 2009 started early. [Can deliver on T-Day as well this year] As always, this is a tax deductible donation with receipt.

Back from hibernation.

Yes. I know. I've committed a blogging sin. As those who know me can attest, Relay is never far from my mind! But my hiatus is officially over - it's time to kick off 2009! This is why I love the Southwest Committee - they're on it.

June 6th, 2009. Summit Middle School. Mark your calendars, postpone your wedding date or family vacation.

This year marks the 25 anniversary of the first Relay For Life - good things to come!

Feeling purple and very, very tired.

A quick note before I collapse on the couch Relay For Life - Southwest Allen was a huge success. I personally had an amazing time, the staff and committee really did a great job putting this Relay together. And rough estimates are putting the total dollars raised at $44,000+! This event will make an important impact on our community with every one of those dollars. I'll simply say 'thanks' to everyone who's played a part this year until the more formal, and coherant wrap-up. I'll admit I wavered, even up to this week, on continuing to do a team but then the event comes and I wonder why I doubted! I'm already looking forward to next year.

Relay For Life is finally here!

$925 has already been raised for team Night Owls For A Cure - yay - it's going to be a good year! A big thanks to those who've donated or bought a cheesecake, those small things will make a big difference to someone this year. ACS researchers get most of the notice but on a local level it's a low cost mammagram or free lodging during treatment away from home among many other things. It's pretty awesome to impact someone's life for the better just by spending a day socializing in the sun (yes I'm being hopeful) and having some sweets ;)

Stop out anytime to be my walking buddy since I really will be there for 24 hours and determined to keep someone (ugh myself) Relaying day and night! Come for a slice of cheesecake @ 2 or 7 pm at the tent.It's going to be a great day & I'd love to see you there! Reach me at 416-8631 for directions or just ask for me once you're at the field :)

Leslie

Awareness Laps & Important Events

9:00 am Opening Ceremonies, Surviver/Caregiver Laps
10:00 am General Cancer Awareness (Lavender Lap)
11:00 am Childhood Cancer (Gold Lap)
Survivor Celebration/Luncheon
1:00 pm Breast Cancer (Pink Lap)
2:00 pm Lung Cancer (Clear w Gold trim Lap)
3:00 pm "HOPE" photo out on the field
4:00 pm Lymphoma Cancer Awareness (Red Lap)
5:00 pm Colon Cancer Awareness (Brown Lap)
6:00 pm Leukemia Cancer Awareness (Orange Lap)
7:00 pm Brain Cancer Awareness (Gray Lap)
8:00 pm Pancreatic Cancer Awareness (Purple Lap)
9:00 pm Prostate Cancer Awareness (Blue Lap)
10:00 pm Luminaria Ceremony
11:00 pm Cervical Cancer Awareness (Teal w white lap)
1:00 am Testicular Cancer Awareness (Orchid Lap)
2:00 am Multiple Myeloma Awareness (Burgandy Lap)
3:00 am Urinary Bladder Cancer Awareness (Yellow Lap)
4:00 am Uterine Cancer Awareness (Peach Lap)
5:00 am Ovarian Cancer Awareness (Teal Lap)
8:30-9am Closing/Last Lap

Schedule and more onsite fundraising

When Blogger says they don't support PDFs, they aren't kidding! Here's the basic outline schedule with more updates coming midweek. Since it's hard to read message me if you'd like a copy!

I really need some help in the afternoon and evening, if you're interested in stopping by please let me know. I'll bribe with food if needed!

***

A few other onsite fundraisers:
Fish bowl contest (Fish -just what I want to take care of again!)
Fresh roses
Henna tattoos
Silent Auction (good stuff!)
ID/DNA kid kits (only $5! You keep them in the freezer)
Popcorn from the PopWeaver teams

Luminaria

The luminaria ceremony will be held Saturday May 31st @ 10pm. I know it's a bit later because of Daylight Savings, but it is really neat when it's dark! Names of all the honorees on the luminaria bags will be named and celebrated. It's definitely my favorite part of the Relay night!

If you'd like to purchase a luminaria bag you may do so online or see me for a bag and you can decorate one yourself. They're available for a $10 donation now thru the day of!

Updates...

I'll be putting up a tentative agenda on Thursday or Friday as I know it for activities and meal times. I'm going to guess the Luminaria ceremony will be around 9:30pm (due to daylight savings they'll want to get close to dark before it starts).

Hold onto your hats - the Relayer who brings along the most guests (any unsuspecting car-riders are fine too) will be the recipient of this (L) tee:

It's amazing what I find when I clean out the Relay tote There's probably some other stuff I'll be giving away too. More to come!

Make a donation online

I love being able to make donations online. So convienent! Please see the ACS Online Page if you're interested in making a donation!

Additional Onsite Fundraising

ReJOYCEful Relayers will be doing "ID kits" onsite at Relay this year for a $5 donation. Normally running $25 elsewhere, Team Captain Tim's security company, Absolute Protection, will be making DNA & ID kits for mom's & dad's to keep in the freezer in case of emergency. We missed out on doing this last year so we'll definitely be making the stop - what a great deal for something so important!

Good news

Many thanks for another year of corporate sponsorship from my employer. It makes it nice to have my shirts and registration covered, as well as the great donation. Thanks HK!

With that the grand total is up to $730.00 for 2008 so far, almost halfway to goal and not too shabby for not sending out an email or flyer yet! Next week I swear!

2008 Information!

Relay is coming at me like a freight train, help! I'd really love to have you join me for the event for an hour of what I'm sure will be a beautiful May day & night!

May 31st - June 1st, 2008 9a - 9a
Summit Middle School (across from Homestead High School)
Fort Wayne

Participants can run, walk or roll the track during the event keeping someone going at all times if possible, relaying the same way cancer is fought - day and night. I can't make any promises but Braiden might even let you try his scooter. I'll also gladly take help cutting up and serving cheesecakes (voted favorite fundraiser of 2007!) a couple of designated times in the afternoon and evening TBD next week.

This Relay location will be quite a bit bigger with 33 teams already active. I'm so excited, I love doing this event, all the better to get to participate with and for the people I love most.

If you're unable to come out but would like to support the efforts please feel free to donate at Southwest Relay Online

See you in a couple weeks

when I come out of the kitchen...15 cheesecake orders in for Easter.

I'm thrilled, it's a good start to get a little money raised early on!

**

Update! The fifteen jumped to twenty four, with a few people turned down due to lack of fridge room. This has been such a wonderful surprise to bring in $480 in the first effort this year.

The Big Move

NOFAC will be joining the Southwest Allen County Relay this year after some consolidation of events. I'm really excited about the move - the location at Summit Middle School will be great and good for foot traffic!

Specifics coming soon!

Easter Cheesecake Sale!

I will be making cheesecakes March 10th - March 21st (Good Friday) for this year's Relay For Life. Last year $660 was raised in cheesecakes alone & I'd love to do even more this year.

They are homemade and a 100% tax deductible donation ;) Place your order any time for delivery by March 21st.

Traditional New York w/ pastry crust & your choice of fruit or topping
Turtle w/ chocolate crust
Key Lime w/ chocolate crust
Pumpkin Marble w/ gingersnap crust
Triple Chocolate
Raspberry Swirl w/ pastry crust

$20 each, 9 inch - serves 12-15. All but Key Lime can be frozen and can be shipped for at FedEx cost.