I need help! I am planning and organizing the Fight Back/Closing Ceremony for our event. Yes, the Fight Back & Closing Ceremonies are one and the same for our event. The event is 24 hours and the ceremony will begin during the last hour, 8:00 am, of the relay.
Before the Fight Back Ceremony will begin, we will be presenting all the awards for the event. Once this is completed, we will transition into the Fight Back Ceremony.
We plan on creating a lot of hype about the Fight Back Ceremony through word of mouth and in the press. The goal is to get as many people as possible to attend. I have a basic idea about what I want to do, but that's about it. Here's what I have:
The Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back. flags enter with music playing. Not sure what song should be playing, but strongly considering Right Now by Van Halen. Once the flags reach their position, the music is lowered, but still playing. The speaker, probably myself, then begins to speak. I do not know the content yet and I am still reviewing the script. The speech will end asking people to come forward and take their pledge to Fight Back. If they wish, they can speak into a microphone and share their pledge. They will remove a flag from the ground and sign the Fight Back banner. The whole time, music will be playing. Again, not sure of what songs or in what order. As the final people take their pledges, the flags will begin moving to the track. The crowd will be asked to meet behind the flags in preparation of the final lap. When the crowd is gathered, We Are The World by U.S.A for Africa (written by Michael Jackson) will begin along with the final lap. Upbeat music will continue to play until the last person completes their lap. Songs will include, but not limited to Dancing in the Street by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Walking on Sunshine by Katrina & the Waves, Power of Love by Huey Lewis & the News, etc.
This is my rough draft. It's quite rough, but a start. I feel I might be missing the "Wow!" factor. With all the hype we are going to be giving the ceremony, I feel like we might be letting down the crowd. What can I do to create the "Wow!" factor? Or will the ceremony itself be strong enough? What do you think about inviting a local high school band to play the introduction of the Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back flags?
Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Any yes, I have already reviewed the Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back. Guidebook, sections on the Relay Library, and many blogs & forums on the topic. Thanks for all your help.
Mission Delivery Chair, 2007-8 Relay for Life of Atwater Team Captain, 2007-8 Relay for Life of Atwater Mission Delivery Chair, 2008 Relay for Life of Merced Team Captain, 2007-8 Relay for Life of Merced
I hope this will help give you some ideas. I'm neither an evangelist, a cheerleader, or a public speaker, but I've received enough positive feedback that I'm going to try it in front of our committe/team captains. If I can pull that off, I'll have approval for the closing ceremonies. I'll have to adjust the final (call to action) piece for the ceremonies, these are specific to the meeting/my practice. I'm listed as "Tv:" in the script.
Celebrate – Remember – Fight Back script
Tv: We’re now at the “Audience Participation” portion of the program. I won’t ask you to do the Chicken Dance or the Hokey Pokey – you can remain seated, if you prefer.However, you WILL be required to raise your hand. If you will be unable to raise your hand, please let me know ahead of time, by giving me a “no” nod as I scan the room.
Tv: How many here have been affected by cancer? Raise a hand- either hand – this part is equal opportunity! This means you are a Survivor, a Caregiver, or just know someone who has had cancer.
Tv: OK, trick question – you wouldn’t be here if cancer hadn’t impacted your life.
Tv: This next part requires you can tell your right hand from your left. Are you all familiar with the term “ambidextrous”? That means someone who is equally good with either hand. I was born left-handed, so, in a right-handed world, I could be considered “semibidextrous”. THAT means, I’m equally LOUSY with BOTH hands.
Tv: SO, just to help us all out, and in case you are “directionally challenged”, I asked my Granddaughter, Justice, to help me.(Justice gets up, joins me)
Tv: Justice has been a cheerleader, and now that she is 13, she knows EVERYTHING.(Justice steps away, sticks her tongue out at me, until we get a laugh, then smiles and looks sweet, puts her arm around my waist)
Tv: SO, Justice will help you all, by facing me, (I will continue to face the audience, J-Ice will face me, but to the side) and helping you to keep track of your Right (we both wave right hands) and Left hands (we both wave left hands).
Tv: Does everyone know what is the opposite of “RIGHT”- yes, it is LEFT. The opposite of “RIGHT” is also “Wrong”. In Spanish, the left is called “Sinistro” – Sinister, or wrong.
Tv: We’ll start with your Right Hand. We’ll count, on our fingers, the Survivors and Caregivers we know about. There are so many, even in this room, this won’t take long.(Justice counts on right hand as tv does-Hand at shoulder height)
1. My Dad, Tony, prostrate cancer
2. My friend and former manager, Jeff Benefield
3. My friend and customer, Ray Meeks, thyroid cancer
4. My friend, and coworker, Mark Daniel, pancreatic cancer
5. Caregiver- my wife, Susan.
Tv: That was pretty easy, yes? Lots of winners! Put your right hand down, but don’t lose count on your fingers.
Tv: Now, on our left- the Wrong hand- REMEMBER those we’ve lost to cancer, and their caregivers. (Justice again follows my count, hands at just over shoulder height).
1. Anetta, my mother-in-law, pancreatic cancer
2. Adam, the son of my friend, Frank, who died at 23 of lymphoma… sorry, I need to count the rest silently…
Tv: (after 20 second pause, raise hands, arms fully extended. full 5 fingers on left hand and right hand, Justice the same). Then drop both hands.
Tv: So we CELEBRATE: Survivors and Caregivers!(Right hand up in the air, all five fingers extended)
Tv: We REMEMBER:Those we’ve lost and their Caregivers! – (Left hand also up in the air, all five fingers extended)(Tv and Justice: drop arms/hands- get ready, 5 second pause)
Tv and Justice: AND FIGHT BACK!! (Right hand in fist, push toward the sky!!!)
Tv: And HOW are we fighting back? (call to action- specific action)Tonight:
1. (tv 1 finger in air) – you have no clue what to do- but, you can sign a dollar bill, and it will be credited to the Cure Cash Team Winners.
2.( tv 2 fingers) – you will talk with two business or school leaders tomorrow, and give me their names so I can followup with them
3. ( tv 3)- you can convince 3 people to join your team
4. (tv 4)-You can let us know your pre-relay fundraising so we can help!
5. (tv 5)- You can engage a new Team in Franklin, Springboro or Waynesville
Tv:(back to the fist, pumping in air): My assistants will pass among you- you WILL write your name and what you will do tomorrow to FIGHT BACK!(Assistants/minions will take forms on clipboards, with pencils, to each person. Two columns: 1.)my name, and 2.) I will do Tomorrow)
Tv: Thank you all, and we really, REALLY appreciate YOU and your help to FIGHT BACK!
March 16, 2008 - 12:41pm login or register to post comments
Verity Currey
Posts: 3
Joined: 2007-08-08
Fightback Ceremony
Hi Ted
I posted something similar a couple of months back (not in as much detail) and have been waiting patiently for some replies but I have to say that as yet not a lot has been posted regarding this ceremony from Relayers on the ground. The Fightback guidebook is a wonderful resource but ideas from people who have actually staged a Fightback Ceremony are always more "real" I think.
I come from Australia and I saw the Fightback Ceremony for the first time at the Dallas Summit in August 2007. I was blown away by the power of the ceremony but a little worried as to where I would find as powerful and motivating a speaker as Jeff back home. We had our own Australian Summit two weekends ago and I got to relive Dallas all over again with a unique Ozzy theme. Our Fightback speaker was AWESOME and I still have goosebumps thinking about her speech. We will be incorporating our Fightback into Closing as well since our Relay does not go the full 24 hours to keep out of the hot sun (2pm Saturday to 10am Sunday). I will be moving all the prizes for best dressed team, tent etc to Saturday some time and anything else I can so as to make Closing / Fightback short, sharp and impactful. Can't decide whether to have last lap at the beginning and then do Fightback or vice versa. We tried the ceremony last year and it fell a little flat but we had only returned from Dallas a few weeks previously and didn't have much chance to hype up the Relay teams about it. I feel that this is key to its success as well as a great speaker and WOW music of course.
Our Relay is not till November so I will be watching the website to see what eventuates over the next couple of months as you wonderfully passionate and inventive Americans stage more Fightback ceremonies. Sorry I couldn't be more help but at least you know you are not the only one out there with the same problem! And thanks for any help you might be able to give - it's great to be able to share ideas to make Relay even better!
Verity Currey
Team Captain and Entertainment Chair 2005 - 2006 Team Captain, Team Development and Ceremonies Chair 2007 - 2008
March 13, 2008 - 5:08pm login or register to post comments
Ted Torres
Posts: 109
Joined: 2007-04-30
Thanks
Hey Verity,
Thanks so much for taking the time to share your plight. It is nice to know I am not alone in my search of ideas for the Fight Back Ceremony.
Here is my biggest concern. This will be our community's 10th Relay For Life® event. The them is "Through the Decades." As you can imagine, we are asking teams to decorate according to any decade of their choice. Because it is the 10 year anniversary and the first time we are incorporating the Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back! theme, I do not want to let down the community with a weak ceremony.
I am looking for that "wow!" factor. I believe the white flags and pledging to save a life is a great "wow!" factor. However, we will be asking people to make their pledge throughout the event. I feel this lessens the "wow!" factor a bit. Should I focus on another "wow!" or should I take what I already have and work with it?
I will be speaking during the Fight Back! ceremony and probably will not have a guest speaker. This has a lot to do with time constraints. Plus I think it best to keep it as short and powerful as possible. Leaving enough time for those who want to share their pledge to do so. What do you think? Any ideas?
By the way, where in Australia are you from? I visited Melbourne for a couple of weeks about 5 years ago. What a wonderful place. Loved the Aussie Rules Football.
Again, thanks.
Sincerely,
Teddy
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Ted Torres
Mission Delivery Chair, 2007-8 Relay for Life of Atwater Team Captain, 2007-8 Relay for Life of Atwater Mission Delivery Chair, 2008 Relay for Life of Merced Team Captain, 2007-8 Relay for Life of Merced
March 14, 2008 - 5:16am login or register to post comments
Joined: 2007-04-30