We're holding a launch at Brent Cross Shopping Centre on the morning of Saturday 31 May.
The Centre have kindly given us a free rein to collect money, promote the event, sign up survivors and teams and generaly make a splash. We need volunteers to help us for a few hours that morning. If you can help collect money, walk about in your team teashirts or fancy dress, hand out leaflets or man our stall, please can you email us on relayforlifeharrow@london.com as soon as possible. If you are a team captain, then here's a great opportunity to raise easy money for your team.
We'd be particularly interested in anyone who has a story they'd be willing to speak to a reporter about - about being a survivor and living with cancer, or why Relay is so important to you - as we will be inviting the press and there's nothing they like better than a human interest story.
On the planning front, we held a very successful Logistics meeting last week. We're hoping to secure a much larger stage than last year, and the plan is to have it covered. We've also got a new member of our Committee. Emma Ross was a leading light on the Birmingham Uni Relay Committee last month and has now moved down to London. Not content with one Relay in a year she's going to be coordinating our entertainment and activities!
A couple of teams have had to pull out but we are signing up new teams as we speak - the total stands at 25. The entertainment schedule is near-complete and we'll share it with you all in a couple of weeks.
Leslie and Gill
Friday, 16 May 2008
Friday, 2 May 2008
May Day Relay Update
Hello everyone. Delighted to say that we've been making great progress on Relay since our last posting. We've got 26 teams confirmed and another half-dozen almost confirmed so it looks like we're over 30 at this point, but there's room for plenty more so if you've just come across this site and would be interested in forming a team, please download the Team Captain Info Sheet on the right of the page.
We're going to be emphasising Family Fun even more this year. We're delighted to have the services of Go-Kart Party who are providing mini go-karts for the kids. We've also got a traditional Punch and Judy man to keep us all amused (all together now .. "That's the way to do it!") while Custard Storm Productions will be putting on a Circus Workshop and clown face-painting for the kids, and the rest of us who have never really grown up! Plus we'll be having giant games to play, including we hope Jenga and Connect 4.
Live entertainment will include the welcome return of Samantha Jean, better known as The Diva! with her amazing band, plus more line-dancing lessons. New this year will be a special appearance of youth dance group The Flash Kids. If you were at Relay last year you'll remember the Flash Angels - well the Flash Kids are from the same stable and we are really looking forward to seeing them perform.
But of course the real heart of Relay are the teams. So do put on your thinking caps and come up with some really fun things to do from your stalls.
Finally, if you have kids at school, then take a look at the School Arts Competition material on the right-hand side of the page. We'd love as many schools as possible to take part - the younger the age at which healthy living is encouraged, the healthier our next generation will be.
More news in a couple of weeks.
Leslie and Gill
We're going to be emphasising Family Fun even more this year. We're delighted to have the services of Go-Kart Party who are providing mini go-karts for the kids. We've also got a traditional Punch and Judy man to keep us all amused (all together now .. "That's the way to do it!") while Custard Storm Productions will be putting on a Circus Workshop and clown face-painting for the kids, and the rest of us who have never really grown up! Plus we'll be having giant games to play, including we hope Jenga and Connect 4.
Live entertainment will include the welcome return of Samantha Jean, better known as The Diva! with her amazing band, plus more line-dancing lessons. New this year will be a special appearance of youth dance group The Flash Kids. If you were at Relay last year you'll remember the Flash Angels - well the Flash Kids are from the same stable and we are really looking forward to seeing them perform.
But of course the real heart of Relay are the teams. So do put on your thinking caps and come up with some really fun things to do from your stalls.
Finally, if you have kids at school, then take a look at the School Arts Competition material on the right-hand side of the page. We'd love as many schools as possible to take part - the younger the age at which healthy living is encouraged, the healthier our next generation will be.
More news in a couple of weeks.
Leslie and Gill
Friday, 18 April 2008
2008 Relay Update
Welcome to the 2008 Harrow Relay. If you are new to Relay, then take the time to browse the resources on this site. We are welcoming new teams (8-20 people) and do please get in touch via the email address below for further information, or download the Team Captain Information Sheet.
If you've already signed up, or are a returning team, then you'll be pleased to know that we already have as many teams as last year and are on track to achieve our target of 40 teams. This gives us the opportunity to make Relay even bigger and better than last year.
Several of our entertainers will be returning this year, but we are keen to get your views on acts and entertainments that would add something new to Relay. So do please get in touch and share any ideas.
And do let us know of any fundraising ideas that worked particularly well for you so we can share them.
More news next week.
Leslie and Gill Moss
If you've already signed up, or are a returning team, then you'll be pleased to know that we already have as many teams as last year and are on track to achieve our target of 40 teams. This gives us the opportunity to make Relay even bigger and better than last year.
Several of our entertainers will be returning this year, but we are keen to get your views on acts and entertainments that would add something new to Relay. So do please get in touch and share any ideas.
And do let us know of any fundraising ideas that worked particularly well for you so we can share them.
More news next week.
Leslie and Gill Moss
Tuesday, 4 December 2007
The 2008 Relay starts here!
Well we've finally closed the books on 2007, with the staggering total of £85,000 after expenses. While money isn't the only measure of success for a Relay, it's extremely satisfying to have raised so much for vital research.
You'll have noticed the title change to our blog - we're now the 2008 Relay blog! And we are looking for help to achieve our ambitious target of 50 teams and a six-figure profit. So please:
You'll have noticed the title change to our blog - we're now the 2008 Relay blog! And we are looking for help to achieve our ambitious target of 50 teams and a six-figure profit. So please:
- Put a diary note for the weekend of 13/14th September 2008 at the same venue as previously (the Bannister Centre in Harrow Weald).
- Get your teams together for a kick-off meeting - remember, you can start fundraising and recruiting new members right now.
- If you'd like to take part in the event organisation we will welcome you with open arms! Just drop us an email to relayforlifeharrow@london.com with some contact details and we'll get right back to you. Any level of involvement from subcommitee chair to helper on the day is up for grabs so don't hold back and do pass the word around.
A promise - the 2008 Relay will have all the best bits of this year and last (including the best of the entertainers), but will also have some new features, so watch this space!
Here's to a great 2008 Relay.
Leslie and Gill
Thursday, 13 September 2007
It was worth the wait!!
Well, that was quite a weekend! First the bare facts:
- 25 teams with over 350 participants
- More than 50 cancer survivors
- More than 500 Candles of Hope
- Superb acts from our dancers and performers
- Dozens of volunteers to help set up and run the event
- Hundreds of members of the public to come and support
- A wonderful and moving atmosphere, especially the Candle of Hope Ceremony
and already over £70,000 raised after expenses, with £80,000 likely.
In short, a stunning success on all levels.
Thank you everyone for supporting, attending and making it such a special weekend. Especial thanks to every team, who created the unique spirit that is Relay. We'll post photos shortly.
We hope that you will all be back next year for Relay 2008.
Leslie, Gill and the Organising Committee.
- 25 teams with over 350 participants
- More than 50 cancer survivors
- More than 500 Candles of Hope
- Superb acts from our dancers and performers
- Dozens of volunteers to help set up and run the event
- Hundreds of members of the public to come and support
- A wonderful and moving atmosphere, especially the Candle of Hope Ceremony
and already over £70,000 raised after expenses, with £80,000 likely.
In short, a stunning success on all levels.
Thank you everyone for supporting, attending and making it such a special weekend. Especial thanks to every team, who created the unique spirit that is Relay. We'll post photos shortly.
We hope that you will all be back next year for Relay 2008.
Leslie, Gill and the Organising Committee.
Sunday, 22 July 2007
Only six weeks to go!
Progress report: We've now got 28 teams and will have to close entries at 30! So if you've been thinking about entering a team, NOW is the time to get in contact with Helena Marks!
See here for the latest programme. All the entertainments and activities are booked, but we are still finalising a couple of details. Look at the previous blog entry for details of our major acts. We've also in the process of booking some great food concessions for you and the public - sausages and mash for anyone?!
Fundraising is going great guns! The money collected so far is FIVE times what we had in at this point last year! So a great thank you from our Treasurer to those of you who are diligently sending in your money.
Don't forget to sell Candles of Hope (suggested donation £5). We want that track completely surrounded with burning candles to light the way throughout the night.
A big thanks to all our teams - one more team captain meeting and then it's the big day!
Leslie and Gill
See here for the latest programme. All the entertainments and activities are booked, but we are still finalising a couple of details. Look at the previous blog entry for details of our major acts. We've also in the process of booking some great food concessions for you and the public - sausages and mash for anyone?!
Fundraising is going great guns! The money collected so far is FIVE times what we had in at this point last year! So a great thank you from our Treasurer to those of you who are diligently sending in your money.
Don't forget to sell Candles of Hope (suggested donation £5). We want that track completely surrounded with burning candles to light the way throughout the night.
A big thanks to all our teams - one more team captain meeting and then it's the big day!
Leslie and Gill
Sunday, 3 June 2007
Harrow Relay Update
Team Update: 23 teams and another 5 in discussion!
Our event is really coming together now! Acts confirmed for the Saturday include:
- The J-Stars Cheerleading Team - 30 girls from South Ruislip - will "kick" off our event with a display of dance, parading and gymnastics.
- By popular demand, Stephanie Lindley will again teach us line dancing steps and we'll try to set a record for the largest-ever line dance, at least in Harrow!
- We are proud to have secured the Flash Angels, seven dynamite Bollywood dancers who won the Sony TV UK Championship this year. Catch the video of their performance here.
- There'll be two sets by outstanding jazz band Diva - one in the afternoon and a more intimate set for the teams in the evening. Listen to a clip of them here.
There'll be a chance to listen to cancer specialists again, and lots of other activities are planned, especially for the kids. For the latest timetable, see here. Promotional flyers will be available shortly - we'll be circulating them to all teams.
Hope to see many of you at the Garden Party on June 24th for Lunch and Fun!
Leslie and Gill
Our event is really coming together now! Acts confirmed for the Saturday include:
- The J-Stars Cheerleading Team - 30 girls from South Ruislip - will "kick" off our event with a display of dance, parading and gymnastics.
- By popular demand, Stephanie Lindley will again teach us line dancing steps and we'll try to set a record for the largest-ever line dance, at least in Harrow!
- We are proud to have secured the Flash Angels, seven dynamite Bollywood dancers who won the Sony TV UK Championship this year. Catch the video of their performance here.
- There'll be two sets by outstanding jazz band Diva - one in the afternoon and a more intimate set for the teams in the evening. Listen to a clip of them here.
There'll be a chance to listen to cancer specialists again, and lots of other activities are planned, especially for the kids. For the latest timetable, see here. Promotional flyers will be available shortly - we'll be circulating them to all teams.
Hope to see many of you at the Garden Party on June 24th for Lunch and Fun!
Leslie and Gill
