The staff and students at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic High School aren’t letting lockdown deter them from their annual Relay for Life Campaign happening on June 4.
OLOL will be hosting a virtual relay event at the end of the school day for all students.
“Traditionally, Relay for Life has been an event that students sign up for in teams or sometimes individually and they would gather with students from the other three high schools in our board for an in-person event,” shared Emily Erison, senior English and ESL teacher as well as Athletic Director and Temporary Advisory to Student Senate and Athletic Council, who are spearheading Relay for Life.
Erison, who has been a co-advisor with Emily Case from OLOL explained that in past years, students would be excused from classes and spend approximately 10-12 hours partaking in the event which would see games, a BBQ and various Relay-related activities such as opening ceremonies, listening to survivors speak, live entertainment put on by students, and various carnival-like activities. Once the sun began to sink, candles were lit to honour those who they Relay for and all would participate in a silent walk.
“This year because of the restrictions on gatherings and the Ontario stay-at-home order extended until at least June 2, we are having to create a fully virtual event. Initially, we were hoping for a hybrid model that still involved class cohorts getting out and getting in some steps but at this point, it will be something that is encouraged at home as time and weather permit,” she explained.
Although virtual, the now 1hr long ceremony will still have an opening ceremony, a survivor speaker, a survivor victory lap, entertainment, prizes awarded for various incentives, contests, teachers and students performing various dares and activities depending on which milestones are hit, and a virtual candle ceremony.
The motto this year for Relay for Life is, ‘The pandemic has stopped a lot of things this year, but it hasn’t stopped cancer nor our ability to fight.’
“We are hoping this is an event our entire community can celebrate and enjoy. It’s something that is not about the pandemic, not about academics, and it’s not meant to be stressful,” she said. “We look forward to seeing where we end up with recruitment and fundraising, but its not even about that this year – it’s about coming together as a community and to show ourselves and cancer that we are stronger together.”
OLOL fundraising goal this year is to raise $5000 as a school community. In addition to driving the fundraising, the student committee members have worked extra hard this year to rally the school community around the event.
“The students are the ones who do the real leg work in organizing relay and a virtual event is no different in that department. The students seek our sponsors, collect entertainment acts from the student body, communicate with our survivor speaker, put out informational social media posts and announcements and try to keep the community hyped about getting involved and fundraising for the Canadian Cancer Society,” said Erison. “They’re doing a great job as first time committee members and for some first time Relay participants.”
While registration is closed for participation, donations are still being accepted up until the event date.
For those that simply wish to donate, including those outside of the school community, they can visit www.relayforlife.ca/olol and on the homepage, they can select the donate button. Here, they can direct their donation to the event or to an individual by searing and selecting their name.