I need to learn how to write titles.
Relay for Life is an annual event held at many locations across the United States. The idea is that teams of people have one person walking around a track for 24 hours to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Teams raise money before the event and during, through on site fundraisers and events the day of. All in all, it's a fun time for a good cause.
But there is a strange aura of competition surrounding this charity event. At every stage of money raising, competition is not only present, but encouraged. As a team captain, I am willing each member of our team to reach our goal AND raise us the most money. During the event, teams that raise the most money with on site fundraisers are rewarded. Two staples of the day of Relay, "Relay Idol" and "Mr. Relay," a talent show and men in drag competition, respectively, have winners determined by raising more money than other teams. Although in the heat of almost constant competition, nobody really feels like they are competing with each other. Every "win" for a team is equally as much a win for everybody involved. They won because they raised the most money, but either way, the money is still going to The American Cancer Society. That's a pretty beautiful thing in my mind.
Everybody competes. Those in need win. We all have a ton of fun doing it.
Relay For Life is tomorrow, Saturday the 14th. Come down to Palmer Field, participate in the day and some on site fundraisers, and come hang out at the RCPlayers site. We'll have cupcakes in a cone.
Oh. Did you hear that part. CUPCAKES IN A CONE. Yeah. That's portable America if I've ever seen it. Join us, won't you?
Chad Rhiness
Relay for life is a great cause. It is very interesting how it can be viewed as a game. I find the best part about this "game" or "competition" is that there are no losers. Everyone can win and this is probably one of the only competitions like that. This is why relay for life is such an amazing event, it brings people together for a greater cause. Good post, and a good cause.
ReplyDeleteNot only is Relay for Life an amazing way to raise awareness for a cause, but I think Justin's point about the type of competition it entails is very interesting! It got me thinking about games that do not specifically have a "winner" or "loser". I usually think about the fun in gaming as trying to beat your opponent or yourself. The difference about Really For Life is the fact that the motives behind the "race" are for a greater cause. This made me start thinking about the fact that not all games are about winning to losing, or even about the purpose of the game itself, but rather the function that the game has in supporting a greater cause. While walking or running around a track is a common activity that many people participate in on a daily basis as a leisure activity, the specific purpose of Relay For Life stands for something so much greater than the physical act of running. Rather it represents awareness and support for a cause that is very important while bringing people together through acknowledgement. Therefore it is what the Relay stands for that is important as opposed to the physical act of participating in this "game".
ReplyDelete- Brigitte
I too was involved in Relay for Life in high school during my Junior year. My school as a whole participated in it, but we were all divided into teams by grade. It was a comopetition within our school for each grade to see who could raise the most money. Of course our school announced a winner in the competition, but I agree with Justin in saying that nobody loses because of the cause. No matter what amount of money we raised it was still helping someone and it truly is a beautiful thing.
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