Students and Relay For Life

The 2011 Relay For Life of Lake Travis is right around the corner and the planning committee has been doing a great job prepping for the event.  Many people have participated in many events, but not many understand what happens behind the scenes.

Relay For Life, which is the signature event for the American Cancer Society is planned and carried out by one staff partner from the American Cancer Society and a group of area volunteers.  I have been event Chair several times and on the planning committee since 2002.  One of the most significant things I have done is coach Lake Travis High School students on the planning committee.  Students from the LTHS Interact Club, which I have been advisor for, have been on the planning committee as long as I can remember.

So just what are the students doing this year and who are they?  Logistics is being handled by an LTHS sophomore and a freshman.  These guys are responsible for mapping the amphitheater and roads around it at the Hill Country Galleria Mall, where Relay For Life will take place.  The night of the event, they will direct people to their camp sites and making sure they park in the designated garage.  They have also put together a rain plan and have mapped a track in a parking garage in case of rain.

Aside from planning Relay For Life in general, the Luminaria Ceremony is probably the largest task to plan and carry out.  An LTHS senior and a are taking this on.  This ceremony takes place just after dark and requires around a minimum of dozen people to sell and decorate luminaria bags, place them around the amphitheater, conduct the ceremony and then clean up later at night.  These kids  have also come up with a rain plan.

Cancer Education and Awareness are being handled by two freshman.  As part of the goal of Relay For Life is to raise awareness of and educate people about cancer, these girls will direct activities to make sure people learn more about cancer risks, treatment and prevention.

An LTHS senior is coordinating entertainment.  Thanks to this senior’s connections the Lake Travis H.S. Jazz Ensemble will provide entertainment until around 10:00 PM.  After that he has arranged for quieter acoustic acts to play because of a city sound ordinance.

The high school usually has quite a few teams participating in Relay For Life.  A senior  is responsible for high school team recruiting.  In past events there have been as many as 20 LTHS teams with over 150 participants from the high school.  The students typically raise between $10,000 and $20,000 so student teams are a very significant part of the event.

One thing I like to do every year is to pair an older student with a younger student to run the subcommittees.  Ideally a senior of junior with Relay For Life planning committee experience will train his or her replacement for the following year’s event.  This is an excellent way to make sure the parts of the event students handle go well and it provides continuity for future events.

The 2011 Relay For Life of Lake Travis will be held at the Hill Country Galleria Mall from 7:00 PM on April 15 until 7:00 AM the following morning.  As of March 29, 17 teams registered online and over $13,000 has been raised.  The top team so far is Coldwell Cares with over $10,000 in funds raised.  The top student team at LTHS right now is the Cavelletts.  The girls have raised $525 so far.