Hi, everyone. I'm developing Relay For Life in JAPAN. We had two events this year in Tokyo and Ashiya(the city next to Kobe where the earthquake hit in 95). Being inspired through media coverage, around 10 cities around the country have declared to have an event next year.
Although we've experienced the Relay, it wasn't quite a TEAM event. Yes, there were teams of families, friends, corporations, but they didn't quite form a relay. They just walked randomly and most of the members went to sleep in their tents through midnight.
I'm curious to know that do all of your teams in all of your relays have a member on the track during the event. Isn't it hard to maintain 24 hours of relay with only 8 members?
I know I may be asking a silly question, 'Of course! It wouldn't be a relay!' you might say. However, here in Japan, the concept of Team participation hasn't been completly understood.
Our relay in St. Charles, MI US fully uses the concept of a "relay". One way to make keeping someone on the track for a full 24 hours easier, is to increase team size if possible. I have about an average of 20 people on each team. I also print of a sign up sheet broken down by the hour. Team members sign up for one hour slots to walk. They typically sign up in partners, to make the hour go by faster when walking with someone else. Each member signs up for a few one hour slots that work into thier schedule. It works great for our teams. People sometimes take naps in between their scheduled times so they are fully rested to walk when they need too.
Hope I could be of help. If you have further questions, please feel free to email me.
Megan Browne
December 5, 2007 - 12:43pm login or register to post comments
rmkiser
Posts: 11
Joined: 2007-03-04
Depends
Well, it really depends on the team itself. I have a small family team and we do keep someone on the track at all times unless the weather gets threatening such as it did this year. Then, for safety, we don't. However, I also saw teams with no one on the track.
December 4, 2007 - 6:04pm login or register to post comments
Joined: 2006-09-19