You can make a difference in the fight to end cancer.
Every year people just like you gather together in their community and participate in the American Cancer Society event known as “Relay for Life”. The Chantilly/South Riding Relay will be held at the nZone on June 6th. At Relay For Life events, communities across the globe come together to honor cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against a disease that has already taken too much. The funds you raise truly make a difference in the fight against cancer – just ask one of the nearly 14 million cancer survivors who will celebrate another birthday this year!
Relay For Life teams walk inside the nZone and take turns walking or running around a track indoors. The event begins Saturday, June 6th at 2:00 PM and continues until midnight (no overnight camping). Why walk so long? Because fighting cancer is a long battle and we want to show our dedication to the heroes who are surviving cancer, have been lost to cancer, or are helping those being treated for cancer. Each team is asked to have at least one participant on the track at all times during Relay. No need to be the fastest walker or runner – just take a leisurely pace if you’d like. Then switch off with a team member to take a break and join in on the fun at Relay!
The nZone will be decked out in purple, the color for cancer awareness. There will be live music from our New Life Outreach Band, speakers/presentations, games, costume contests, awards for the best team tent, a late night movie in the Keg Room, plus snacks, snow cones, and moon bounces for the kids! Each team will also be having small fundraisers at their team tent, such as face painting, bake sales, and carnival games. So there’s fun for the whole family!
There will also be a Survivor’s Luncheon on Friday. This is a chance for you to invite anyone who is surviving cancer with the special honor of a speaker, presentation and lunch to celebrate another birthday. To kick off Relay at 2:00, there will be a Survivor’s Lap and Caregiver’s Lap. This is the community’s chance to applaud each and every hero affected by cancer to encourage them to continue the fight. There will even be cheerleaders from a local high school to help us keep their spirits high.
Along with all the fun, Relay is an emotional experience for all who attend. Our team is now selling Luminaria, which are white paper bags personalized with a name, message or drawing in memory or honor of a friend or loved one who has been affected by cancer. Luminaria can also be dedicated in support of a Relay participant. After dark, all of the Luminaria are lit with candles inside in a moving ceremony accompanied by live bagpipes. Everyone walks silently around the track to reflect and pray. Each luminaria candle represents a person. They are our mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, friends, coworkers, and so many others. It is an awe-inspiring sight that everyone should witness.
Even if you cannot commit to joining our team to walk, there are still many volunteer positions available to help make Relay a successful event for our community. We need people to help at the registration table, concession stand, children’s area, assist attendees, and to set up/clean up. Alone we can do so little, but together we can do so much. That’s why Team New Life is committed to walking all night long in Relay for Life!
To join our team as a walker, purchase a Luminaria, make a donation on our behalf, or purchase a sponsorship for your business, visit our Team Page , Facebook page or .