We ended up getting to Cy-Woods around 4:00 for massive confusion. Andrew wasn't there yet, and neither Mina or I had ever participated in a RFL event before, let alone Team Captain one. Once we figured out that people need to check in with us, then go over and sign up to work a certain shift at the registration table, the set up went a lot smoother. We hauled in all of our tents and tables, and got our area set up while a few of Cy-Falls people went and helped Mrs. Cissy set up the luminarias. The 3 hours of setting up went by REALLY fast, Mina and I spent a lot of time on our phones and running around while Andrew directed people in setting up and helping others out.
Ms. Malissa showed up around 6:45, and we all loved having our own survivor for Cy-Falls. I'm hoping next year we can get more people involved in the survivor activities, because that's part of the reason why we RELAY!
At 7:00 the festivities began with Mrs. Kovar talking, the pledges to the flags, a really funny 2-year cancer survivor talking, and then the Survivor Lap. It was really neat to see Ms. Malissa walking, and at the halfway point having Matt be able to walk the second half of the lap with her. After the opening lap, everybody was kinda set free for a little while to run whatever needed to be run. I went back to our area to get people signed in with us to get their service hours, and signed up with the RFL Committee to volunteer. People began walking the track, a BUNCH of our group was helping out with the Carnival games, it was rewarding seeing everything getting done.
After manning our area and booth (we had goodies to sell, face-painting, and a nerf-gun shoot out) it was time for the Luminaria Ceremony. They had some people talk and tell their stories, and lit all of the luminarias. On the bleachers they had empty milk cartons that we lit like the luminarias that spelled out the word "hope". I missed most of the ceremony because we were getting ready for the Fight Back Ceremony, but from the looks on everybody's faces and from what I was told, it was really moving and wonderful. I'm kinda upset I missed it, but I know better for next year!
After the Luminaria Ceremony, Cy-Falls was up the lead the Fight Back Ceremony. We had our well-known state-wide drum-line there, along with a few cheerleaders, and then some more people participating in the Relay to help out perform skits about "pledges" to prevent cancer. Matt dressed up in the Hunter (our mascot) costume and was a GREAT Hunter! He was SO funny, the perfect mascot.
Once the Fight Back Ceremony was finished, we were once again set loose for a little while to walk and work. Andrew got ready for the Mr. Relay pageant, some people volunteered, some walked. Mr. Relay wasn't too far after the Fight Back, so before we knew it Andrew was up as our "pimp" Mr. Relay, accompanied by Matt and Travis. They totally should have won, we yelled louder, and they were much more appropriate than some of the others.
This was like 10:00, and nothing else was planned till midnight, so we all walked the track and played Ninja or Oshka. A bunch of the polo kids walked around the track passing Matt's polo ball which was really fun. Oshka and Ninja was also entertaining, and probably resulted in why I have random scrapes all over my legs... oh wells, it was worth it!!
Around midnight we got the notice to start packing up and that we needed to go home because we were under tornado warnings, and there was hail and bad storms in Prairie View heading towards Cypress. It was a real bummer, but I think my favorite part of the entire night happened when cleaning up.
I went over to help Mrs. Denee clean up the carnival and I LOVED talking to her! She had such interesting stories, and was such a cool lady. I think everybody who was carrying tables for her that night would agree, it was wonderful.
By 1:00 this morning, everybody loaded whatever was left at our area (chairs, tarps, tents, random poles, etc) into my truck and we all left. I got home around 1:35 this morning.
It's a major bummer that it got rained out, but we learned SOO much! I'm so thankful Mina got me involved, and I can't wait till next year when we can make it even better!!
Now I'm off to Andrew's to meet with Mina to sort out everybody's "stuff" that all got mixed up.
Pictures WILL be in a following blog post!!
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