"Doesn't matter what the press says. Doesn't matter what the politicians or the mobs say. Doesn't matter if the whole country decides that something wrong is something right. This nation was founded on one principal above all else: the requirement that we stand up for what we believe, no matter the odds or the consequences. When the mob and the press and the whole world tell you to move, your job is to plant yourself like a tree beside the river of truth. And tell the whole world--"
The American Cancer Society’s 2012 Relay for Life started in earnest last week with an opening rally in four special regions in Linden Lab’s MMO Second Life set aside specifically for the purpose. This year’s theme is “Time For A Cure” and again Second Life residents of all stripes are banding together across the grid in this massive campaign uniting to raise funds to fight cancer.
The JLU Caped Crusaders, the team of the Justice League Unlimited / League of Heroes public service organization operating within Second Life, will join in the fight for the fifth year in a row, along with dozens of like minded public service groups. Team captain and co-captain Kalel Venkman and Samantha Lowell will co-helm this year’s campaign. This year the team is dedicating their efforts to Second Life resident Spaciva Ivanova, a community leader and friend of many notable for her resilient spirit and unfailingly sunshiney disposition and inspirational courage in her own fight against cancer.
Relay for Life was the brainchild of Dr. Gordy Klatt, a Tacoma surgeon, who took to the track at Baker Stadium at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma in May, 1985, to raise awareness and funds for his local American Cancer Society chapter. In the course of 24 hours, Klatt walked and ran nonstop over 83 miles, raising $27,000 to fight cancer in the Tacoma area.
Inspired by this, Klatt enlisted Pat Flynn – now known as the “Mother of Relay” – the following year to expand on his success. Nineteen teams took part in Tacoma’s Stadium Bowl and raised $33,000 and Relay for Life was born.
In 2011, dozens of Second Life teams raised over $375,000 USD for the American Cancer Society. Funds go to research for a cure as well as support services providing assistance to those who need to travel for treatment, as well as counseling and assistance programs for patients, caregivers and families.
Krypton Radio will be providing weekly updates in this worthy cause, so stay tuned.
Relay For Life of Second Life celebrates 7th year and accomplishment of $1Million Dollars Raised as main event kicks off July 16.
TheAmerican Cancer Society‘s Relay For Life of Second Life (RFL of SL), celebrates its 7th year of fundraising efforts within the virtual world of Second Life. Also known as (SL), Second Life has allowed people from around the world to enjoy and participate in the efforts to help raise funds for the American based charity organization, from the comfort of their own homes. To date the RFL of SL has raised an impressive $1Million, $326,000 of it collected during the days leading up to the start of the 2011 Relay. While raising that amount of money is not unheard of, it’s a significant achievement for a virtual society. This has perhaps been one of the most unique aspects of internet culture in the approach to fundraising, allowing people to use virtual 3D characters which they create from a base model and then customize to suit their fancy. Linden Research, Inc. (Linden Lab/LL) which owns and operates the virtual world of Second Life, has sponsored the American Cancer Society (ACS) for over seven years now in SL.
Through the advertising on its website, and donation of virtual land called regions. Linden Lab has made it cost effective to allow the all volunteer force consisting of hundreds of people to put on yearly events, including the famous virtual recreation of the annual RFL marathon, happening this year July 16-17. In real world events, hundreds if not thousands of people participate by being sponsored to run marathons in locations across the United States. The Second Life contingent of these volunteers and participants recreate this aspect of the real event by linking dozens of donated regions together to form a running track, and today on July 16 the runners take off for their virtual jog to help raise funds for cancer research, and to show support for cancer survivors and caregivers.
Along that track are campsites for the various teams which have helped in raising funds for the RFL of SL, including the Krypton Radio sponsored team JLU Caped Crusaders and United Federation Starfleet.
JLU Caped Crusaders Campsite - Fortress of Tranquility
The Justice League Unlimited (JLU), is a superhero themed not-for-profit community organization within Second Life, who regularly hosts fundraisers and assists their fellow SL users on a myriad of issues. The build is by the very talented Searra Weatherwax, and the theme is a merging of the Kryptonian syle with a beautiful park setting and all four seasons. Featuring a set of holo-projectors displaying the names and images of Doctors and researchers who have made significant contributions to the field of cancer research.
United Federation Starfleet Campsite - Alien landscape
The United Federation Starfleet is a professional Star Trek fan organization and is also a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation registered in New York, which operates groups within Second Life and in the real world. The UFS campsite was planned and lovingly crafted by, Zania Turner.
For a complete list of teams participating in the RFL of SL, you may click here.
Press Release from the ACS on RFL of SL
American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Second Life Celebrates Seventh Year with “Seasons of Hope” Theme for 2011
Virtual Online Event Reaches $1 Million Fundraising Milestone in Furthering the Quest for a World with Less Cancer and More Birthdays
ATLANTA – July 11, 2011 – The seventh annual American Cancer Society Relay For Life® of Second Life will take place July 16-17, 2011, as avatars – three-dimensional, graphic visualizations of persons’ alter egos – representing cancer survivors, caregivers, their families and passionate supporters gather virtually to commemorate “Seasons of Hope.” Together, they will celebrate the lives of those who have endured and those who are currently battling cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease by raising funds to help further the American Cancer Society’s vision of a world with less cancer and more birthdays.
Relay For Life of Second Life also emphasizes participation among cancer survivors who are active within the virtual world, where, already this year, more than 150 survivors have pledged their support for the American Cancer Society and its impact on their individual battles with cancer. To learn more about Second Life, including information on how to join a team, visit http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=34810
Second Life is an online, three-dimensional world imagined and created by its residents, who enjoy almost unlimited freedom in virtually engaging in everyday life much as they would in the real world. Linden Lab, which more than a decade ago created Second Life (secondlife.com), enters 2011 as the premier sponsor of Relay For Life of Second Life.
During the early fundraising period for the 2011 Relay For Life of Second Life, the $1 million milestone was passed for the event’s seven-year legacy as the digital parallel to the American Cancer Society’s signature, real-world fundraising initiative, Relay For Life. More than 3,000 participants are expected to attend Relay For Life’s Second Life experience this summer, as 130 teams unite toward a fundraising goal of $275,000.
Relay For Life of Second Life began in 2005, when American Cancer Society volunteers in the Second Life community approached Society staff about creating a Relay For Life event in the virtual world. The result of this collaboration is a cyberspace community gathering in which participants continuously navigate a custom-built track, encompassing a 480-acre virtual park, to raise money to fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. Marking its global involvement, the 2011 Relay For Life of Second Life event features volunteer representation from 130 of the world’s 196 countries.
Throughout this year, the Relay For Life of Second Life volunteer committee has worked to increase donation security, to invite and train new volunteers, and to design this year’s virtual event track. Volunteers have also donated a renovated design for the American Cancer Society Island, its Second Life property, to allow visitors to intuitively find the information and/or resources they need, including survivor and caregiver support.
Several large-scale team fundraisers have benchmarked the months leading up to this year’s virtual Relay For Life event – starting with Fashion For Life, a kickoff festival featuring the virtual world’s best digital clothing and accessory designers and directing the proceeds of specific items to the American Cancer Society. Other notable events include the Fantasy Faire, a festival in which shoppers purchase digital goods to decorate their avatars, and the Home and Garden Expo, which features virtual houses, gardens and landscapes. These marquee fundraisers complement Relay teams’ and individuals’ general fundraising initiatives.
“We have added new teams to this year’s Relay For Life of Second Life experience, and a number of new businesses with the Second Life community are investing resources in our event. As well, we are hopeful that this summer’s event will surpass our largest single-year fundraising total,” said Scott P. Bennett, American Cancer Society national vice president, marketing. “Recognizing the passion that our Second Life volunteers have for how Relay helps fulfill the American Cancer Society’s lifesaving mission, we are also exploring expansion opportunities for Relay in other virtual worlds.”
In 2007, the American Cancer Society created a virtual headquarters in the Second Life community to provide the same, round-the-clock cancer information and services that the organization delivers in the real world. The Second Life headquarters continues to develop opportunities to serve the needs of survivors, caregivers and families.
In the real world, Relay For Life is a fun-filled, overnight event that convenes millions of people in support of the American Cancer Society’s lifesaving movement. Relay in the real world traces its roots to 1985, when Dr. Gordy Klatt of Tacoma, Washington, a colorectal surgeon, circled a track for 24 hours to raise money for the Society.
During real world Relay events, teams of people gather at schools, fairgrounds and parks and take turns walking and/or running laps with the goal to keep at least one team member on the track at all times. Since 1985, Relay For Life events, held in 5,200 real world communities, have cumulatively raised more than $3 billion to help the Society accelerate the progress against cancer.
The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; by helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing more than $3.5 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us anytime, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Claire Greenwell
American Cancer Society
Phone: (404) 417-5883
Email: claire.greenwell@cancer.org
The American Cancer Society’s 2012 Relay for Life started in earnest last week with an opening rally in four special regions in Linden Lab’s MMO Second Life set aside specifically for the purpose. This year’s theme is “Time For A Cure” and again Second Life residents of all stripes are banding together across the grid in this massive campaign uniting to raise funds to fight cancer.
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