Relay For Life Tipperary

What is Relay For Life ?
Relay For Life (often shortened to Relay) is a volunteer-driven cancer fundraising event for the Irish Cancer Society.
Originating in the United States, the Relay For Life event has spread to 21 countries.Relay events are held in local communities, campus universities, military bases.

Although the main objective of Relay is to raise money for cancer research and cancer patients, the event is held to spread cancer
awareness, celebrate the lives of survivors, remember those who lost their lives to cancer, and unite a community.

Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are held overnight to remind everyone of that. Where people bring tents and sleep out around the track.
People of all ages come out to bring the community together and reminisce about their loved ones who have died of cancer and honour those who have survived the disease.

Most participants are a part of a team, consisting of approximately 10-20 people.
A Survivor Dinner, to celebrate survivors of the disease.
A Survivor Lap, which starts the Relay event.
An Opening Lap, in which all the teams take a lap around the track carrying banners to celebrate their team accomplishments.
A Candle of Hope Ceremony, to honour those who lost their lives to cancer.
A Closing Ceremony, including a final lap around the track in which everyone takes part.

Survivors are the V.I.P’s of the Relay community. The Survivor Lap, which signifies the start of Relay, is again used to distinguish the survivors and celebrate their victory.
The Survivor Lap is a very emotional part of a Relay For Life Event. The survivors are able to walk around the track, while others cheer them on and celebrate and recognize the obstacles they have overcome.

Relay For Life’s slogan is “Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back.” The Candle of Hope Ceremony is targeted toward “Remember.” During this time, participants are asked to gather and remember those who have fallen victim to cancer.
Candle bags are decorated by participants, honouring a loved one who has passed or is engaging the disease.
These bags are placed around the track and candles inside the bags are lit before the start of the Candle of Hope Ceremony.
Following the Candle of Hope Ceremony participants walk a lap around the track in silence to give respect to those who have
fallen ill with cancer or to those whose lives were lost.