STAND: An Exhibition of Survivors and Fighters features HOH Members

It's been said many times that no two people travel the same journey, but when it comes to the fight against cancer there is a common bond that can be found in every story you will encounter when you visit STAND: An Exhibition of Survivors and Fighters.  This is the brain child of Catalina Staheli, member of the Relay Rockers RFL team and the photographer who generously donates her time to create the "Why Do You Relay? photos, , free of charge (though she has a general donation kiosk that you can contribute) to anyone who makes an appointment.

Two members of our Harmony of Hope team, Cathy10 Longoria and my dad, TS Darrow, participated in this exhibit and are sharing pieces of their stories with the masses.

When it's your story to tell, to open up a wound to the whole SL world you have to consider the courage and strength these two members of our team.  So, why would the tell their story?  When I'm healing from something I tend to not want not talk nor think about it and do my best to move forward; put the past in the past.  However, I had to stop and think what if this were my cancer story? Would I want to share all or even a glimpse into my very personal experience?

It caused me to gain a depth of respect for Cathy, Dad, and the others showcased in this magnificent exhibit. Condensed into a notecard, along with 2-3 simply breath taking photographs Catalina contributed for each featured survivor or fighter; they opened a piece of their real lives...their cancer journey...anywhere from diagnosis to their status today.

That is part of what the Relay for Life campaign is founded on; creating a community of caretakers, survivors and more to create an open dialogue and of course, raise money for the American Cancer Society as they assist the medical community in finding ways to control and even cure the vast and varied forms of cancer that plague our society.  In telling their stories, these strong people will give hope and courage to those who are also taking a cancer journey...as a survivor, a caretaker, a fighter...because it's for them we must continue to Relay.

Please take the time to explore this event STAND: A Survivor and Fighters Exhibit LM ; the original dates were May 2-10, 2015 with events happening every day, but it was my understanding that the Relay Rockers have said they will continue to keep the exhibit open until the closing of our relay season.  Watch the notices in the Volunteers group for updates.

The Future is NOW!

"Why I Relay" by Cathy10 Longoria

Hi there, my name is Cathy10 Longoria.

 

I'm participating in the Second Life 2014 Relay For Life.

I am a proud member of "Harmony of Hope".

I relay in honor of myself as a recent cancer survivor, my father who is currently fighting lymphoma, and my "Fabulous 5" co-workers.

I have colleagues and friends who fought and won their battle with cancer.

 

 

This is my first year participating in RFL in SL and Committee.
I have relayed for real world relay events, but never took it seriously until 2013.
My personal battle with thyroid cancer was temporary, but I will have a few minor challenges for the rest of my life. I am glad their is a cure for thyroid cancer.

My father has lymphoma and his battle began in March, 2013. I walk alongside him in his journey with the rest of my family.

My mother is his caregiver and was involved in every step of my journey. She, along with other caregivers, are amazing. My admiration for her magnified ten-fold for her strength to help her daughter through cancer and now her husband in less than three years.

During my time with cancer, four of my co-workers fought their battle with cancer. We are known as the "Fabulous 5". One lost her battle with cancer and the rest of us won our battles.

I relay in honor of myself as a recent cancer survivor, my father who is currently fighting lymphoma, and my "Fabulous 5" co-workers.

I am also the Area Lead for Sponsorships on the Public Relations Committee for Relay for Life in Second Life. Donations and sponsorships are much appreciated...good way to put your Why I Relay? into action.

"Those who have suffered, understand suffering, and therefore extend their hand."

Cathy10 Longoria

Survivor~Caregiver~Fabulous Five

CELEBRATE

REMEMBER

FIGHT BACK

Why I Relay by TS Darrow

This is my 7th year of relaying in Second Life.

I relay because this Journey of Promise is not over.

I will continue the fight until no one ever has to hear the words "you have cancer".

I relay for those who cannot and for every hero who lost their battle.

I proudly relay with my team Harmony of Hope.

I am also honored to relay with my strong spirited wife who is my inspiration.

We will fight until there is a cure!

TS DARROW
Co Captain Harmony of Hope

CELEBRATE

REMEMBER

FIGHT BACK

 

Harmony of Hope~ 17,000 page views and going strong!

~ OMG ~

Thursday, 16 June 2011

Mega Challenge
OK here's the deal.

Relay for Life of Second Life fund raising Season of Hope is 30 day from being over. I see that amazing total we have done and I am stunned to see it top $200,000 USD all ready. ~WoW~

So my little challenge is this, several people including ours truly, will go BALD and more until the start of next year's Relay For Life of Second Life season for 2012

IF

we manage to raise $325,000 USD this year in this last month in this Season of Hope.

Here's what we have committed:
Jacqueline Brianna Bald until RFL2012
Vickie A. Maidstone Bald until RFL2012
Rose Dreadlow Bald until RFL2012
Tahisha Fairplay will give up fur for human until RFL2012
Jennifer Curtau will go Bald and give up Neko for human until RFL2012


Sunday, 10 July 2011 (today)

Jacqueline, Vivkie, Rose, Tahisha and I, are sitting delightfully, nervously, at this years outstanding efforts by everyone, and wondering how this week will end,....

6 days until Relay,

Grand total so far $288,000 US

Bless you all.

Relay Schedule

Well I cannot believe how fast these last 4 months have gone, but here we are, 11 days until WE The People of Second Life, will Relay For Life, on July 16-17th.

Everyone busy with these preparations and the buzz is truly amazing. Builders are going crazy building their teams campsite, and everyone getting their last RFL events completed for what is the climax of these last 4 months.

Everyone secretly wondering what this years total will be, and SO AM I.

SO, if you haven't seen the ACS RFL of SL web site this week, you might want to take a peek at the total raised so far. Last year we raised $222,000 US funds for RFL. On Monday (with 12 days to go) the total was updated for this year and the unofficial total now sits at $225,384 US funds!!!! WooooT!

This alone is an amazing testament to the 100's of teams and the 1,000's of volunteers.

Anyhow, here is the hour by hour laps, being planned for Relay Weekend

Jennifer Curtau

10am - 11am  - Opening Ceremonies

11am - 12:30pm - CELEBRATE - Survivor/Caregiver Honor Walk  - Survivors Are the "Spirit Of Relay" They Are the Promise Of Hope! Please Line the Track and Celebrate Our Heroes, Our Friends who have heard the words "You Have Cancer"

The Caregivers are the Backbone of the Fight. They hold the hands, they care for and support their loved ones as they walk their cancer journey. Once again Line the Track and Support the Ones who give so much to help our Survivors Fight Cancer!

12:30pm - 2pm - Team Spirit Lap - Teams R Us!  Team Shirts and banners. Walk the track with pride for all you have done to help find a cure for cancer.

2pm - 3pm  - Purrfect Pets - Sponsored by KittyCats - Wear animal print, neko ears, tails or even be an animal or furry avatar! Dress as your favorite pet or animal!

3pm - 4pm -  I Cannot Believe I'm Wearing This! - Wear something you normally wouldn't  wear in SL. Would never admit to being a Furry? Don a furry avatar. Wouldn't wear latex *ever*? Bring it on! Wouldn't be caught out in curlers and slippers? Wear it!  Not a girly girl? Wear frills!  Not a surfer dude? Put on that long blonde hair and swim trunks!

4pm - 5pm - Ride Your Favorite Horse - Sponsored by Amaretto - Ride your favorite horse, wear your horse avatar or bring on the stick ponies.  We're riding for Relay!

5pm - 6pm - Beach Party (Summer) - Bring out your beach clothes, go barefoot, don’t forget those water bottles and sunscreen.

6pm - 7pm - Fall Fashion (Fall)  - Wear those autumn colors or that Halloween costume.  You could even be a Thanksgiving Turkey!

7pm - 8pm - Winter Nights (Winter) - Dress for those cold winter nights, don’t forget the hot chocolate with marshmallows

8pm - 9pm - Spring Fling (Spring)- the season for flowers, new beginnings, and proms.

9pm - 10pm - REMEMBER - Luminaria Ceremony -  ( quiet reflection with readings and inspirational music; sims are darkened for reflection and remembrance of those and their loved ones who have lost their battles to cancer or are still battling it; all are invited to participate ) Walk the track in silence.

10pm - 11pm - The Power of Purple - wear as much purple as you can. ..skin, hair, eyes, clothing, .. just bring on the purple!

11pm - 12am - Favorite Sport -  football, baseball, rugby, hockey, swimming, cheerleading.. just  any sports attire.  Don your favorite jersey or uniform and bring that Relay spirit.

12am- 1am - Midnight Masquerade - Wear a Masque and costume and join the  carnival like festivity hour.

1am - 2am - Silly Hats -- The name says it all

2am - 3am - Appearance Slider Outfits - Wear only looks you make yourself in appearance. 

3am - 4am - Favorite Decade - Did you love the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's or maybe way back to the 40's or  the flappers or the roaring 20s?   Dress in your favorite decade outfit and show it on the track

4am - 5am - Health Matters - Maybe you are a banana, or an orange, or a carrot? Or simply dress in a healthy food color. Eating right, being active, and maintaining a healthy weight are important ways to reduce your risk of cancer.

5am - 6am - Up All Night - Curlers, Coffee, PJ's & Slippers - time to wake up and smell the coffee

6am - 7am - FIGHT BACK - Fight Back Ceremony - (Pick up your specially made RFL HOPE Cape and Fight Back Flags - available at the Relay Stations,  and join us as we make our fight back pledges to save a life this year -your own, a friends, a family member, or someone you don't even know yet.  Together we all can FIGHT BACK.

7am - 8am - Fantasy Themed - Fantasy Characters - Dragons, Pirates, Star Trek,   Fairies, Elves...  Fantasy themed avatars, Medieval, Tinies, Mermaids & Mermen, Wings

8am - 9am - International Lap - Wear your countries flag.. (provided by the International Committee or outfits that represent your country.

9am - 10am - Formal Hour - Wear your best as  you walk the final lap before Closing Ceremonies.  Formal attire.  Try to keep prims to a minimum, please.

10am-11am - Closing Ceremony

11am - NOON -VICTORIOUS! 'Take THAT, Cancer' LAP - Walk the track and meet the Relay Committee.  Celebrate YOUR Relay!

Dear Cancer

I just found this wonderful site from one of my follower on our Twitter site:  http://www.varian.com/dearcancer

It cost nothing to write a letter, and every letter posted, Varian will make a $50 donation to the American Cancer Society. So I hope you will take a few moments and write one too.

Here's what I wrote:

Dear Cancer,

Ungratefully Thanks You Cancer, because of you I've lost cousins, uncles and aunts, and several dear friends. You tried taking my dad from me too. Now I sit here waiting to hear of another friend's results on his tests, and I wonder how many more you will try and take from me, or whether you will try and take me too. And keep this in mind Cancer, for every one to take, there will be an group of people, of that person you took, that will rise up and fight you. This army is strong and we are determined stop you. Because of you, I am fighter in this army now, and I fight for the day, when the words "You have Cancer", will never be spoken again. I fight for the day when those words will be transformed to "We Have A Cure That"! 

I fight because I can.

Jennifer Curtau

Why I Relay ~ Pink Basevi-Charlesworth

Why I relay, and why I push you, my friends to help out...

In 2005 I was first diagnosed with cancer. As a retired RN, I knew it wasn't something to put off 'till tomorrow', but as a woman, I was beyond terrified and shook to the core. How could this happen to me? Family history, genetics, environment, stress; the... list of possible causes is endless. Either way, it was now in the driver's seat and I don't like anyone taking the wheel from me mid journey!

After chemo and radiation treatments, the loss of my hair, the loss of some dignity, the loss of people I thought were friends for life, the feelings of loss of control over my life and my body... I started to realize with the help of another survivor (Pat), I have gained so much! I found a deeper sense of being as my hair fell out. I found beauty really isnt just skin deep, its heart-deep. I found that with the feeling of evasiveness as chemo and radiation tore my body apart, I had a dignity that came up and held my head up for me.

Yes I have cancer, but I AM STILL HERE! With the loss of those that feared cancer more than they could love me, I found those left still at my side were the 'true' friends for life I had sought. Where I thought I had lost control over my life and body, I found a deeper sense of peace and calm where assumed control only hindered.

I am a Survivor, I am BEAUTIFUL, I am at PEACE with myself, I am NOT ALONE, and I am Strong! I AM A SURVIVOR.

Please donate to the American Cancer Society and Relay for Life. Help those in your lives find their strength, and help find the cure.



To donate to Harmony of Hope in Second Life:  http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY11SL/1393676856?pg=team&fr_id=34810&team_id=920555

Follow Team Harmony of Hope at:
www.rflharmonyofhope.blogspot.com,
www.twitter.com/RFHarmonyofHope
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Relay-for-Life-Harmony-of-Hope/107511229329424

To donate in Real Life: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY11SA?px=21365046&pg=personal&fr_id=32852

Thank You.

Pink Basevi-Charlesworth

Why I Relay ~ Aiyana Orchid

I Relay because I’m 31 years old and have had to fight off this awful disease 2 times. I relay because I don’t want another 27 year old told, who has her whole life in front of her and that of her 5 year son come crumbling down. The moment I heard that I thought for sure it would be the end... It's almost happened...But I am a fighter... and I have a strong will to live. I have great family and friends and an the awesome support of people like you all who help to find a cure for this..

It's about 1:30 my time and I just found out my best friend of 10 years just lost her battle with cancer. How do I feel? I'm beside myself in one count; in the other relieved she isn't suffering anymore and quite fueled to continue helping out with Relay for Life.... We had an agreement her and I...Fight until you can't anymore... For awhile it seems we were both winning... I had mine under control, she had hers... We pretty much held hands and went through all of it together.. It's rare that you find that.... Here I am now in remission and her... she couldn't fight anymore... So in her words...." Thank you all so very much for all that you do... for those of us that fight and loose this battle we know that you will still be there on the battle lines fighting to end this horrible disease. We will be there with you now and always cheering you on and giving you the extra push you need.".... Hence my reason for fighting no matter how hard the road may or may not get for me... Until my last breath I will continue to fight so no one has to hear those words.... and if they do they are followed by "we have a cure for that"... these are my reasons for Relaying... What's yours?

Aiyana Orchid

Why Pink Relays

I am a two-time survivor of cancer.

People assume this is the reason I relay. It is not the only reason.

I relay because I remember Patricia O'Hara, a fiest, 5'1" tall, irish woman in her late 50s sitting across from me as we got our chemo treatments. Pat... old-fashioned catholic irish with two grown kids, sat there and told me to fight this. We both were diagnosed with the same cancer, both getting the same treatments, only she was loosing her third battle with it. This was during my first battle that i sat across from this woman that had a life, kids, a home, a job, friends, and family.

I relay because of Pat, and for Dawnlee Gamboa who lost her battle on 7 Febuary, 2011. Dawnlee was an SL player, a member of the Spirit nations sim, and a fighter.

I asked Dawnlee's permission just hours before she passed, to have the honor of carrying her name in the Survivors' Walk on Relay day. I am honored and proud to say she gave me that gift, before she left us to carry on the fight.

 Dawnlee was 6 years younger than I am right now. She died from Pancreatic Cancer, and her family was with her on that day. Please send your thoughts and prayers to her family in Chicago, Illinois, so they may find the courage to carry on in her stead.

There are thousands upon thousands of reasons to relay... and thousands of excuses not to... you only need one reason to pull on your walking shoes and step out your door... choose one, and come Relay for Life with Me and the other survivors that need you so desperately.

For all those that stand beside me in the Survivors' Walk, for all those that came before us, and will come after us... Thank you.

Pink Charlesworth 
Surivor - Fighter - Member of Team Harmony of Hope-SL-ACS-RFL
                                     (¯`v´¯)
                       *:-.,_,.-:*'´ `*.¸.*´`'*:-.,_,.-:*

                                  GO RELAY!!!