The Relay Season Begins

 

From Youtube

 

 On Saturday February 18, the official Relay in Life in Second Life's official fundraising season began. The "Kickoff" event officially started at 10 AM at the American Cancer Society 2 sim. But people had been arriving early to the point the 100 avatar capacity sim was filled up about an hour before. So yours truly had to wait a while before getting in.

There was a lot of excitement in the air. Unfortunately, there was a lot of lag. So my own screenshots of the crowd and some of the Committee were cloudy, and had to take these off the Youtube of the event. 

There were a few events after the Kickoff elsewhere, such as a fashion show. But some stuck around and had an impromptu party.

Within 24 hours of the event, five teams had raised a quarter million Linden dollars or more, Platinum level, thanks to some off-season fundraising or extra-generous donors. First was the "Free Spirit Hippie Brigade" with 375,000 L, or $1500 USD. Second were the Sunbeamers with 345,000 L. Third was TAP (The Adult Partnership) with over 312,000L. One More Light was fourth with 269,000. And fifth were the Steelhead Salmons with 250,000 Linden dollars.

One can keep track of the team fundraising levels here (link). By now, two more teams have risen up to Platinum, Team ES and Seekers of Hope. Team ACTS isn't too far behind at Gold status with 224,000 L. Two longtime teams, Relay Rockers and Purple Tears, are at Silver. And four more noted ones, the Cure Chasers, Burners Without Borders, Roos With a Dream, and the Second Life Cheerleading Squad, are at Bronze. But they should catch up fast.

Go Relay!

Bixyl Shuftan