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Relay For Life Recap

By Kline May Realty

Real Estate Broker/Owner with Kline May Realty

May 07, 2014 04:06 AM

Hello all, Aimee here blogging on behalf of Kline May Realty and our family of agents.

This week it's less about adrenaline-inducing recreation and more about an awesome event that recently occurred in our community, which does have recreational aspect. Today's topic is the Relay For Life.

Last Friday and Saturday, the great folks at the American Cancer Society (ACS) hosted the annual Harrisonburg-Rockingham Relay For Life at the Rockingham County Fair Grounds.

According to their website, "The American Cancer Society is the nationwide, community-based, voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service."

Relay For Life is an annual fundraiser sponsored by the ACS. Relays are held in many communities and at many colleges throughout the nation. At the event, participants walk around a track in shifts for 12-24 hours, depending on how long the Relay is. At Relays, there are often contests, themed laps, food, and lots of laughter and tears.

Our wonderful Valley residents who participated in our Harrisonburg-Rockingham Relay event raised over $339,000, and that's not even the final tally. There was also 2,100 pounds of food collected at the Relay for the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.A couple of our agents e-mailed me to share their Relay experience. One of them is a first-timer, and the other is a seasoned Relay-for-Lifer.

Derik Trissel: It was my first time at Relay for Life, and I had no idea how big it was. It's the largest Relay in VA and the 19th largest in the country. As the MC said at the opening ceremony, it's an event that makes you smile one minute and cry the next. A time of celebration and remembrance. Everyone has been touched by Cancer; be it friend, family or yourself. I was blown away by the support of the teams set up for the night. It was like a tailgate (minus the alcohol) and lots of comradery. As I walked the oval, I could see that many of the participants come annually and see friends from year to year--rejoicing in each other's company and in some cases life or death. There is a sense of burden knowing the passing of so many as the candles are lit for the special luminaria ceremony of remembrance. It's moving for many of the participants.

Curt Laster: Big crowd. Great weather! Walked around the track several times with LaDawn and some with Derik, two of my fellow Realtors. Lots of good food for a good cause! Ran into several folks I knew and some former clients, as well.

I myself have participated in many Relays throughout the years, but I wasn't able to attend the Relay this year. I'll be there next year, though, and I'm looking forward to it!