Relay for Life 2011

Last night was the Coles County Relay for Life. This year's theme was "Send Cancer on a Permanent Vacation!" Beckett wore a pink ribbon for Grandma Hild, Great-Grandma Beard, and Clara. We also got luminiaries in their honor.


For the past two years, I've helped organize our school district Relay team, which usually ends up being one of the largest teams at Peterson Park. With over 500 employees, it's no wonder! In actuality, all I have to do is plan meetings; the committee that volunteers each year does an amazing amount of work and donates a lot of time to the cause.

Our team's fundraising goal this year was $10,000, which was ambitious, especially because the event is about a month earlier than usual this year, and our non-certified staff does not even receive their first pay until September 15th. We used a combination of payroll deductions, footprint sales, a silent auction, a basket raffle, t-shirt sales, and luminaries to raise the money. Ultimately, the event is about fellowship and honoring memories as well as surivors. It's one of the only opportunities we have to come together as a district to hang out and spend time together as friends, not just co-workers.

This year, since I recently changed buildings in the district, I got to see all of my middle school friends. They loved on Beckett, who received several babysitting offers for his cheeks alone. I really love my new job, but I miss all the friends I made at the middle school. However, there was a dunk tank for middle school personnel, so I'm glad I missed out on that one! :)

The dunk tank raised $280 last night, which, at $1 per 3 throws, means 280 people paid to dunk their teachers! (Or co-workers...) The idea was our friend, Rachel's, and Shonn went with her husband, Rich, to Mowequea to pick it up last week. They have to take it back today after church. Shonn is so helpful and nice about donating his time.

We didn't stay up all night; in fact, we had to leave around 7:30 when Mr. B started making some...requests....that we head home. Regardless, though, we had a wonderful time and enjoyed celebrating so many stories of those who have battled cancer and won. Beckett was asleep before we pulled out of the parking lot.