This past weekend was our Relay For Life event. Like most Relays, there were some glitches along the way, but nothing too stressful (at first). Saturday was a picture perfect day, until later in the evening when storms started to roll through.

We delayed the start of our Luminaria Ceremony in hopes that we’d miss the rain, but then heard that it was going to rain throughout the night, so we proceeded. The Luminaria spelling HOPE in the bleachers were illuminated as a poem was read, then we started to light the candles as the names were read. That’s when the wind gust hit. Bags started blowing over and going up in flames … and a committee member had to stomp out the HOPE Luminaria (they didn’t have names on them). We then blew out the rest of the candles. The only image in my mind is that of the bags on the bleachers going up in flames … it looked like sparks flying as the bags ignited.

The weather report looked as if the entire night would be filled with rain and gusty winds. And we were already seeing a lot of lightning… some bolts were large and close, and a few tents were destroyed. We made the decision to start sending people home, and asked them to come back in the morning. We also asked that they help gather up the Luminaria, all 2095 of them, and take them into our Cancer Ed tent so they wouldn’t blow all over the stadium. We then got word that the storm front passing through was going to go around us, so we immediately got the word out that we were staying open. Unfortunately, some had already left. After midnight, everything cleared up, and we continued with the music.

Sunday was another picture perfect day. In the morning, a group of people gathered in the Cancer Ed tent, and straightened out the Luminaria bags and set them up on the tables. I then announced that the reading of the names would begin, and people could walk through the Ed tent to view the bags (only a couple were lit for effect). We were all surprised how many people went in there and looked through all the bags, which weren’t in any order, for those of their loved ones. If they couldn’t find it, we made up a new one for them. Many people took their bags with them.

At ten till eleven, I got our net total from our staff partner, and went out to the podium with my co-chair for the closing ceremony. We thanked everyone for their help and support this year (this was the first year Tina and I co-chaired the event), and announced that we were $1,900 short of our goal of $266,000. We told everyone that we weren’t concerned because we knew we’d reach goal by August 31st. We then got everyone on the track for our Victory Lap, which started off with “We’re All In This Together”. There were just as many, if not more people than in past years! As we neared the completion of the lap, someone ran up to me with the news that an anonymous donor just made a $2,000 donation because they couldn’t bear to see us leave the stadium under goal… especially with us being so close.

By reading this, some may think our event was a success because we met our goal. Although that is fantastic, it is only part of what made this weekend a success. I consider it a success because it brought everyone even closer together for our cause. Everyone came together to help save the Luminaria when the storms hit. Nobody complained. Everyone was supportive of our improvised Luminaria Ceremony on Sunday morning, and it was just as meaningful to them. Then there was the donation that brought us to our goal … to have a member of a Relay feel so strongly about the event and its leaders that they make such a generous contribution says a lot.

Words cannot express the appreciation and love I have for every single member of the Relay For Life at Latrobe Memorial Stadium. I am proud to co-chair such a wonderful event, and I can’t wait for 2009!