This past Saturday night, the moment that I've been working on since last fall finally arrived. At 4 pm, the committee and I converged at the Carrier Dome, armed with banners, cash boxes, t-shirts and a whole lot of caffeine. The RELAY FOR LIFE was finally here!
Katie arrived at 2 in the afternoon on a greyhound bus from Boston. "I'd say it was a God forsaken bus, if there weren't so many nuns on it," she joked. I was so proud of her for getting up at 6 am to hop a bus and meet me in Syracuse for the big day. We just had time to shower and gobble down a lunch before heading off to the big event.
When the committee met at 4, we debriefed for a few seconds then set to work. Hundreds of cones had to be laid out on the Carrier dome turf, marking off the "campsites." Thousands of white paper bags had to be set up, and filled with a glow stick for the luminaria ceremony. The stage needed sound checks. Registration, silent auction, and T-shirt tables had to be in place. The bone marrow drive team arrived as well as the inflatable jousting crew- it seemed like there was so much to do all at once! Somehow, in 45 minutes just about everything was in place. We stood back to survey everything- and believe it or not it was perfect, with an hour to spare.
Mom and Dad arrived right on time at 6pm with the rest of the teams flowing into the Dome, down the aisle and setting up their campsites. Everyone from College Republicans to the Asian Student Association, Fraternities and Sororities joined us- there had to be close to 2200+ people there. Everyone set up on-site fundraisers. Some teams had bake sales, some teams had raffles. One team painted fingernails for a dollar, and the Army ROTC kids took kids on litter carries around the track (my buddy still can't move his shoulders.) Cash was flowing and people seemed to be having a really great time.
For our family, the most emotional moment was the survivor lap. Cancer survivors and their families did a lap around the Dome while everyone applauded and cheered. Dad refused to wear his Miss-America style "Survivor" banner, opting to tie it around his waist Karate style. Another emotional but beautiful moment was the Luminaria ceremony, where the entire Dome goes dark and the glowing bags light the pathway. Quiet music plays and the names of those we lost are read out loud.
Katie and I each had really amazing moments at the Dome. She sold her own artwork for a fundraiser, and couldn't keep the pictures flying off her sketch pad fast enough! It was wonderful watching her get commission after commission. #44 Jerseys and artistic ballerinas were the best sellers. And in a last minute emergency, I had to sing Amazing Grace during a ceremony, as our scheduled girl got violently ill. I think we both made really wonderful memories of the night.
All in all, the Relay was the most smooth event that I have ever participated in or been a part of organizing. I can't believe that everything flowed as well as it did. I think it really speaks to a wonderful committee that did a lot of hard work and planning and was absolutely ready to go for the big night. I also commend the students that joined us for the night- everyone came with such enthusiasm to celebrate, remember and fight back. Wherever I move and whatever I do, I know that RELAY has to be a big part of my future !
Peace and Love.
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