Relay 4 Life- Invitrogen Eugene

Anything is Something!

Hasn't the weather been gorgeous? We're so lucky to live in such a green state!


* Raffle is still a go. Got $50 from the penny jars last week and was able to purchase a couple more gift certificates, as well as a neat rolling organizer. We need to have a sheet with number of available tickets, prizes, and legal stuff to give everyone to whom we're selling raffle tickets in order to keep this legal and within Invitrogen/ACS guidelines. I'm working on that sheet, I'm going to run it by Dawn as soon as I have it done up and see what she thinks. The Raffle will go through the end of June.

* Breadmaker is going well. Not as much interest as anticipated, but it's still earned over $10 for Relay. Have settled on a MWF schedule. Reception has been fantastic about updating the Intranet with the location, bread type, and previous winner/bid.

* Suns & Moons sales are also going well. Emily has them up in Bldg E facing the elevator.

* Curb for the Cure event is NEXT THURSDAY! Our "corner" is 14th & Marcola in Springfield, right by the Carl's Jr. Bring your Invitrogen shirts if you have them, and extras for those without. We'll have to get together to make signs next week- maybe Tuesday at Noon? Bring butcher paper if you have any- I'll bring some large card stock from Bi-Mart and borrow Birdie's markers. So far I have a solid from Bethany and a tenative from Kyia- no one else has responded.
It's happening Thursday, May 11, 2006 from 3:30 PM-6:00 PM - if you can even come for a half hour to support the team, or just help make signs, Anything is Something and will be appreciated.

* Bake sale is Friday, May 12th (yup- the very next day.) Lisa W. in bldg C has offered to bake, as has Erin V.O. from bldg H and myself. Store-bought goodies are okay if any of you are able to bring anything in to donate. I'm recommending pre-packaging them in plastic baggies. I'll have a sign available with suggested donations, but marking your baggies (especially if your treat is particularly exotic or especially nummy!) is a good idea if you have the time. I'll try to have baggies and paper plates available on the tables for people to use as well.

* Baja Fresh day is happening in June- Baja Fresh will donate a % of their sales, accompanied by fliers we'll be handing out, to our Relay for Life team. Thanks to Bethany for putting this together! More information as this develops- I'm picking up the fliers and having last minute discussions with the owner this Friday.

* I'm working on a Caffiends day as well- operating similarly. Have not heard back from the owner, however- she may be inundated with requests. The worst she can tell me is "no," so I will keep trying. If it doesn't work out with Caffiends, perhaps the Sunshine Deli Wagon would be willing to help out our team.

* Tinker from the American Cancer Society will be attending the Journal Club on Wednesday May 17th from Noon to 1pm. I will put up fliers for this after the Bake Sale (switch them out.) I believe she'll be speaking on the ACS and the Relay for Life. It'd be great if you could make it! Thanks again to Bethany for setting this up!

* I'm working on a Karaoke for the Cure event with my friend on the Semperian team. I have the ok from the ACS. Having a hard time finding a venue- Gateway Mall representatives said their owners have only approved the Shriner's Muscular Dystrophy charity for fundraising on premises. I am waiting on a callback from Valley River. We'd like to keep it in a family-friendly, well-known establishment. I've asked Kim V from shipping if she'd EmCee the affair. If I can't find a professional karaoke DJ to donate their time and equipment, she said she'd be willing to bring in her setup as well. I'm excited! It may not happen, but if it does I think it would be well worth the time and effort we invest.

* I sent out an email to friends and family when we first started this R4L- I'm sending out a paper letter with an update to everyone I know. Have you done this yet? It's listed as the top fundraising method by the ACS. It's non-invasive and informative. People can support you in this effort if they want, and are able, or they can just cheer you on. Either way, it's good to get the message out. And again, Anything is Something.

If you have any ideas or would like to help out with any of these, please contact me at my work email address, or just reply to this email.

I have not heard from my Aunt in Washington who was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in December. I wrote to her a month ago, but I suspect she is busy.
I got a call yesterday that my Uncle from another branch of the family is in the hospital with an advanced form of an extremely rare type of cancer. He has tumors on his liver, his eye, lungs, and my cousin was not sure where else when I spoke to her. I may go visit tonight or tomorrow. Today the doctor is supposed to give him some kind of time estimate. They can't do anything for him since it's in and around his major organs. He is 52.
This whole Relay thing has taken on a new urgency for me. Kim V has a history of cancer in her family as well. As she put it (I'm paraphrasing, this was a week ago, but it was hilarious!,) "I'm not so much donating money to a charity as I am investing in my possible future!"
She cracks me up :)

Doing something, anything, is better than doing nothing and waiting. If no one tells you this today, you are appreciated! Even if you "only" raise $5, it's $5 more than they had. That's $5 to go in a grant for a research company to buy (maybe some of our) research tools to help find a cure. Huge Thanks to you for being a part of this team and doing what you can! Huge thanks to the people donating- buying cookies, sticking their change in the penny jars, buying Luminarias to remember a loved one.

posted by Brandy @ 8:45 AM