1. No category

Welcome to Relay For Life!
We are so excited that you signed up for Relay For Life this year! And, you should
be excited too. Your incredible journey starts now!
By registering for Relay, you’ve taken the first step! From setting your fundraising
and distance goals, to rallying friends and family to join you, and getting pumped
to hit the track on event day, it will be an incredibly fun and enriching experience.
As you prepare to carry the baton, we will be with you every step of the way.
Our team of top-notch personal coaches will help you go the distance with fundraising
tips, tools and training walks. And, by reaching your fundraising goal, the dollars you
raise will work harder to make a greater impact against more cancers in more communities
across Canada, and support everyone in your life that has been touched by cancer.
Thank you for taking the first step by registering for Relay For Life.
This handbook is your personal guide. It gives you the information you need
to prepare for your Relay For Life experience and to successfully reach your
fundraising goal.
We are counting the days until we see you on the track!
Set your goals
$_______________
Fundraising goal
______________km
Distance goal
Ready. Set. Start.
Welcome – 1
The Relay experience
Picture yourself walking a track while hundreds of people – family, friends, co-workers,
strangers and neighbours walk alongside you and cheer you on. The baton you hold
in your hand is a powerful symbol of your personal commitment to make an impact
in the fight against cancer. As you pass the baton from teammate to teammate you
can be sure you are having an impact on so many people’s lives, likely even your
fellow Relayers. At Relay For Life, you’ll walk with Canadians in communities across
the country in this incredibly powerful team Relay event.
When you arrive at your event, you will proudly hit the track knowing you have already
reached your fundraising goal and that the money you’ve raised will fund Canada’s most
promising cancer research and vital cancer support services for patients and their families.
At Relay For Life, you will:
• Walk the track and be cheered.
• Be celebrated for reaching your fundraising and training goals.
• Connect with so many new friends and be inspired.
More than anything, you will feel incredible because you’ll know you’re making
the greatest impact in the fight against cancer right now.
Did you know?
YOU are part of a global movement. In 2015,
20 countries will host 5,300 Relay For Life events.
Hit the track
Relay experience – 2
What to expect on event day
Arrival
Welcome to Relay For Life! You have worked hard to reach your fundraising goal
and now it’s time to participate in the event. Check in and grab a snack, then connect
with your team and get warmed up.
Opening ceremonies
It’s time to kick off Relay For Life! Head to the stage and get ready to be inspired
as we celebrate the impact of the money raised and the lives that we will save
together.
Ready. Set. Walk.
After getting energized and inspired at opening ceremonies, it’s time to get ready,
get set and walk! Grab hold of the baton and hit the track. Don’t forget to keep track
of all of your laps and kilometres throughout the event. You’ll show yourself and
others that you can go the distance.
Distance options
Relay For Life is a challenge-by-choice event. When you registered, you were asked
to choose your distance goal. Whether it is 1km, 5km, 10km, or more, tackling
a distance challenge is a great way to push yourself. Whatever your goal is, we will
be cheering you on the whole time! And when you share your distance goal with
your donors and supporters, you’ll be showcasing your commitment and determination.
Activities
When you’re not on the track, you will be cheering on your teammates and
participating in fun activities for all ages! Be prepared for some serious fun!
Feeling hungry?
No need to worry about anything! Food, beverages, bathrooms and medical support
will all be on hand, if you need them. You have worked hard to fundraise and now
we’ve got you covered so you can focus on enjoying Relay with your team!
Closing ceremonies
Congratulations on completing Relay For Life! You did it! Everyone will come together
as the event closes to recognize the distance goals achieved and the funds you raised
to save lives and support people living with cancer right now. Way to go! Be proud!
Time to Relay
Event day – 5
Relay for all
One of the most unique aspects of Relay For Life is that it is open to everyone –
regardless of age or fitness level. Children can participate and walk the track
hand in hand with grandparents, and co-workers can pass the baton to their
friends and family.
There are many ways to participate in Relay For Life:
•
As a team captain, you’ll take a leadership role to unite friends, family
and co-workers together to mobilize a powerful team of cancer fighters.
•
As a participant, you put the fun in FUNdraising to reach your goal by using
our helpful resources and creative ideas and then come together with your
community to participate in the moving and fun Relay experience.
•
As a cancer survivor, you can inspire everyone who has been touched
by cancer. And, as you fundraise, you will help create a world where no
one fears cancer.
•
Our volunteers give a little time to make a big difference. Generous
volunteers are the heart of Relay. By donating their time, they play an
important role in helping your community join this global movement.
•
Companies big and small sponsor Relay in your community, donate products
or services, and engage employees by registering company teams. Ask your
employer or colleagues if they want to get more involved in this amazing event.
I
Relay for all – 6
Relay
Why we Relay
Each dollar raised, each lap completed, each baton passed, will bring us one step
closer to creating a world where no one fears cancer.
By participating in Relay For Life, you are helping to:
• Fund Canada’s most promising cancer research to save more lives.
More people are surviving cancer than ever before. Today, more than 60%
of people diagnosed with cancer will survive compared to only about 25%
in the 1940s when we began funding research.
• Stop cancer before it starts. Our researchers are leading the fight to prevent
cancer while we promote healthy lifestyles and advocate for policies that protect
our health and support cancer patients and caregivers. For example, remember
when smoking indoors was allowed? Our advocacy has led to smoke-free indoor
public spaces and workplaces across the country and most recently, patios,
playgrounds and sports fields across the province. Last year, two laws that we
campaigned for took effect: a ban on the use of cancer-causing indoor tanning
beds for youth under 18 and job-protected leave from work for Ontarians to care
for ill loved ones.
• Ensuring no one has to face cancer alone. We offer compassionate and
personalized services to those diagnosed with cancer, as well as supporting
their families and friends. We are here to help answer questions about treatment,
diagnosis, care and more. We help connect people when they need to talk and
we help link them to other services in their community.
Learn more about your impact in the fight against cancer by visiting cancer.ca
How you help
Why we Relay – 9
Where the funds you raise
are going
$35
will help ease both the financial and emotional burdens faced by a family
each time they travel to attend their child’s life-saving cancer related appointments.
$50
will provide transportation for one cancer patient to a life-saving treatment
appointment, so that they can focus on getting well, not on how they will get to treatment.
$125
will connect one cancer patient or caregiver with a trained volunteer who
has “been there,” providing compassion, encouragement and practical support throughout
their journey.
$300
$2,000
covers the cost of the cancer cells needed for one research project.
will enable a young researcher to attend an important conference,
present results of their work and make connections with other researchers in their field.
Education and knowledge sharing are key components of cancer research.
$10,000
allows one cancer patient to participate in a clinical trial to test
potentially life-saving new treatments.
$100,000
will fund one year of an Innovation Grant, enabling the Society
to investigate unconventional concepts to combat cancer.
Share this with your donors to inspire them to give generously.
Every donation counts
Impact of fundraising – 10
The impact of donations
63%
83%
OF
ADULTS
OF KIDS
12,600 PATIENTS
WE’VE FUNDED OVER
WERE DRIVEN TO CANCER-RELATED
APPOINTMENTS IN 2014
IN CANCER RESEARCH
CANCER INFORMATION SERVICE HAS EMPOWERED OVER
1,000,000 CANADIANS
WITH CURRENT, RELIABLE INFORMATION SINCE 1996
@
SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES CONNECTED ONLINE
THROUGH CANCERCONNECTION.CA TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER
SMOKERS’
HELPLINE
MORE THAN 20,000 ONTARIANS
TURNED TO SMOKERS’ HELPLINE
FOR HELP TO QUIT IN 2014
5 1 3
TO GROUND-BREAKING LEGISLATION IN ONTARIO
INCREASE
10,400 PATIENTS,
8 7 7
ADVOCACY EFFORTS THROUGH
takeaction.cancer.ca HAVE LED
WE’VE HELPED
IN 2014
1
NOW SURVIVE
A DIAGNOSIS OF CANCER
5 3 5 3
HEALTH WARNING LABELS TO
75%
ON CIGARETTE PACKS
60,000
PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS
ACROSS CANADA HAVE CONNECTED
WITH A PEER SUPPORT VOLUNTEER
IN THE PAST 10 YEARS
We’ve come so far
Impact of donations – 13
Getting started
Even though your Relay For Life event is months away, your journey began the moment
you signed up. We’re here to help you every step of the way. You will receive regular
Relay communications with everything you need to know and you will even have your
own personal coach!
Fundraising to fuel the fight
Now that you are signed up, it’s time to start fundraising! Start by setting your goals,
then taking easy and fun steps to achieve them.
$
Step 1 – Set up your
personal page
Log in to your online Participant
Centre to set up your personal
fundraising page. Sharing your
story and a photo or video with
your donors helps you make
a personal connection. Participants
that take the time to customize
their personal fundraising page
raise more money. A lot more
money.
Step 2 – Set your
fundraising goal
Setting a fundraising goal is one
of the easiest and most effective
ways to motivate yourself and your
donors to raise more money. Last
year, the average Relay participant
raised $330. We bet you can raise
more!
Step 3 – Make the
first donation
Put your money where your heart
is and show your donors that you
have invested in achieving your
own goal. Motivate them to give
by giving yourself.
We’re here to help!
Step 5 - Be creative
Step 4 – Start asking
Get your list of contacts ready
and start sending emails. There are
template emails you can use in your
Participant Centre or you can write
your own, and don’t forget to tap
into your social media networks.
Your friends, colleagues and family
will be excited to support you, but
first you need to ask!
Join Relayers across Ontario on
Saturday, May 23rd and host
a garage sale (we’ll tell you more
about this), organize an office
fundraising potluck or plan a board
games night and charge admission.
No matter how you do it, remember
to thank your donors and share the
impact they are making!
Example of a good ask:
“On average, 210 Canadians will die
from cancer every day. As someone
whose father is currently fighting
pancreatic cancer, I find this scary,
depressing and unacceptable.
So I’m participating in Relay For
Life to change this statistic. Will you
help me by giving a gift of $50?
$50?”
Coaches
Your personal coach is dedicated
to helping you have a successful
Relay For Life experience. Your
coach is accessible by phone or
email and will provide you with
resources and tools to help you
with fundraising, building your
team and preparing for the event.
Training walks
Start training today! Our training
walks are a great opportunity to
meet other participants and to build
endurance in order to complete
your Relay safely. Contact your
coach to find out more information
about training walks in your
community!
Craft your own ask on the next page.
Taking steps
Getting started – 14
Lorem Ipsum
Log into your participant centre at:
relayforlife.ca
We’re here to help:
1-866-201-6202
[email protected]
Tell your story My Fundraising Goa
$
to make your ask,
for donations from
friends and family
l
___________
Why do you Relay?
________________________________________________
What impact do you want to have in the fight against cancer?
________________________________________________
What you are doing about it?
I________________________________________________
accepted the baton to Relay For Life
Will you help me by giving a gift of $__________________?
Why I Relay
Your story – 17
Pass it on!
1-866-201-6202
relayforlife.ca
#acceptthebaton