Remembering Fimi

Saturday May 26 was the tenth anniversary of the passing of a noted member of the Sunweaver community, as well as the Passionate Redheads Relay for Life team: Artistic Fimicloud. Known as "Fimi" to her friends, she is still fondly remember. The party at Club Cutlass that evening was in her honor, the theme being "Pink For Fimi."

Many of the women, and a couple of the men, wore pink or partially pink outfits. Sabine Mcettigan, who ran the Readheads, was among those appearing at the party. DJ Snowbuns provided the music for the party. Among the songs was "Calypso," which was a favorite of Fimi.

There were a few items up for display, such as a Fimi Award given out by the Redheads, made in the image of a pink fox, Artistic being an anthro pink vixen. A little more about Fimi can be read in the article of the events in May 2017. Although she's been gone for years, and the Redheads folded, the Sunbeamer taking it's place, she is still fondly remembered.

Bixyl Shuftan

Goodbye Passionate Redheads

Cancer is a horrible illness, claiming thousands of lives every year. It has claimed a number of real life friends, and neighbors. A number of charities raise funds for research, and otherwise helping those stricken by the disease. The most well-known is the American Cancer Society, which is the recipient of the largest fundraiser in Second Life: The Relay For Life.


I first heard about the Relay For Life in 2007 after being told about it by one of my few friends on the Grid at the time. My visits to Second Life were sporadic at the time. Seeing how impressive the builds were, well, the sights helped encourage me to visit more often. Two years later in 2009, I was spending some time with a fun-loving group in Second Life, the Sunweavers, whom hung out at the Cutlass Club. As it turned out, many of them, notably most of the livelier personalities, were part of a Relay Team: The Passionate Redheads. I heard about, and got to see, the Wild West Exhibit for the Relay Track they made for that year. It was an exciting build with lots to see and plenty to do on, from a mine cart ride to river rafting.

The team was more than just my furry neighbors. There were a number of others in the ranks. All led by Sabine McGettin and Daaneth Kiviok. Sadly, one teammate had passed away, Artistic Fimicloud. Many of us had tags "I Relay for Fimi." The pink fox avatar was gone, but she lived on in the hearts of her friends.

In 2010, I joined up with the Redheads. For the season, we were in events like "Jail and Bail," and fun parties, such as the "Fanta-sea" in which this of us with menfolk aves danced underwater with them. And then came the Relay Walk. For the first time, I walked the track not alone, but as part of a team. A team made up of virtual friends and neighbors. The music played at times added to the feeling that we were doing something great. We raised over $6300 that year, and got an award for "Longest Running Team," as well as a Platinum Rank.

As the 2011 season arrived, we looked forward to setting new records. Then came a bombshell. Co-Captain Daan had suffered a stroke. We wondered what would happen? Would our friend pass away? Would our fundraising be ground to a halt? But Daan began to recover, and the team refused to quit, continuing to hold events. Among them were the three "Bid Me Human" events, notably the one with Sunweaver leader Rita Mariner putting her pelt on the line and getting 75,000 Lindens. We sponsored three sims on the track that year, and our own was a detailed one with a Fairy-Tale theme, with lots to see and a number of puzzles to solve. We raised another record amount. We got another Platinum rank award, in addition to Daan getting the Spirit of Relay award for continuing to fight cancer, even when recovering from a stroke. And in July 28, we threw the last Redhead party for the season, thankful for Daan's recovering and having stuck together for another successful year. Unfortunetly, This would be the last time we would celebrate with Daaneth and Sabine.

In 2012, Daaneth and Sabine took indefinite leaves of absence from the team. Dusk Griswold assumed temporary leadership with Lomgren Small's help. The team went on, and managed to reach Gold status. But this would be the Redheads' last hurrah.

After six years, the Passionate Redheads are no more. If nothing else, we raised over $30,000 US dollars in cash for the American Cancer Society. But we did more than that. We helped shape the Relay, bringing about the first Spirit of Relay award,  inspiring the "One Team" concept, and getting a number of prestigious awards through the years. And there was the bringing about of talent. With Lomgren Smalls and Alleara Snoodle, we had two of the most accomplished builders in Second Life. With Sunweaver leader Rita Mariner,  the team had a community behind it. And there were other noteworthy individuals, such as Dusk Griswold, Treminari Huet, Shockwave Yareach, Nydia Tungsten, Skylark LeFarve, and many more.

Gone, but not forgotten. May the Redheads' passion continue as those who Relayed under its banner go on to a new banner to fight cancer under.

Bixyl Shuftan

Passionate Redheads RFL Team to Disband

Today, Sabine McGettigan, the leader of the "Passionate Redheads" team, one of the leading teams for the popular Relay For Life cancer fundraiser, made an announcement. After six years of Relaying, there would be no more. She had reluctantly made the decision to disband the team.

As the 2013 season of Relay approaches,  I find it  my sad duty to disband the legendary Passionate Redheads Team for Relay for Life. 

It has been an incredible SIX YEARS of fundraising for the American Cancer Society, and we have, in my opinion,  accomplished some of the best work of any of the Relay Teams.   In  many ways, we helped to shape the Relay in Second Life, lighting the path for those who would follow us.

It was our team who implemented the very first Spirit of Relay award!   We went on to be awarded the Spirit of Relay three times!  Altogether, the Passionate Redheads won the equivalant of seven "Academy Awards" through the years, while raising over $30,000 USD for our favorite charity. 

Our little team came to be known as the "Compassionate Redheads" because we provided a home to anyone wanting to Relay.  Our Passionate Redheads inspired the now popular "One Team" events with our unflagging support of smaller teams who needed a presence.  We were famous for showing up at events not our own,  bringing with us our love, our charity, and our hope.   Our motto was, "Take care of the people, and the money takes care of itself."  This very spirit is our legacy, and it is a beautiful and worthy one.

I have loved this team with all my heart, for all these years; and love never ends.  Thank you for standing with me for six  years, for showering every  member with compassion,  for working with dedication,  and for supporting the team always,  no matter which direction we needed to take.

My special gratitude goes to Ginger (Dusk Griswold) and Lomgren Smalls, who selflessly stepped in last year when I was unable to continue with Relay.  I ask that you take care of them, and of each other, with the beauty and passion that has always belonged to the extraordinary members of this most Passionate, Compassionate Team.

All Love,
Sabine McGettigan

A number of residents at the Sunweaver Estates, where the SL Newser office building makes it's home, were part of the Passionate Redheads team. This news does not mean these residents have stopped Relaying. There is talk about forming a new team to pick up where the Readheads left off.

The Halfway There Fair

Last weekend held a number of happenings on the Grid. Among them were the Relay for Life's "Halfway There Fair." In the Relay, the Halfway There Fair marks the halfway point from the kickoff of the fundraising season to the Relay walk at the end.

Relay for Life of Second Life is hosting the Halfway There Fair May 12-20, 2012. A festival that opens midway through our fundraising season, the Halfway There Fair is an opportunity for teams and committee to come together and play, smile, celebrate accomplishments and catch our breath for an awesome second half of the season. This weekend features many fun activities including live music entertainment, rides and game activities and the first annual "International Relay Festival".

The sim "Halfway There Fair" certainly looked like there was a lot to do there when I teleported there. There was a roller coaster, a water slide, a merry-go-round, and a number of other amusement park rides. At one corner of the sim was a huge circle of national flags. But the main activity was at the Maypole stage, where people gathered around to dance to the music of the DJ there.

Showing up on Sunday, May 13th, the most people I saw were on Sunday night when about a couple dozen were present at the stage dancing to Trader1 Whiplash cranking out the DJ tunes. There were a variety of noted Relayers, including Sheriff Fuzzball and Eugine of the Steelhead Salmons. There was also a "Purple People Eater" avatar. At one point, Sabine McGettin came by, and danced on stage with two other ladies.

The event of the evening was the "bronzing," or donating to the active teams with smaller totals until their amounts were at least to the 10,000 Linden level it took to reach Bronze status, such as "Pirates Crew," "Team NRRA," "BattleBeast Dragons" and more. The result was a much larger list of Bronze-ranked teams, over sixty in total. The dancing and music went on late into the night.

The weekend saw a number of other Relay Events, including the "Bid Me Human" by the Passionate Redheads on Friday May 11th.

Bixyl Shuftan

Change of Leadership at the Passionate Redheads

The Passionate Redheads team for the Relay for Life has recently undergone a change at the top.

Sabine McGettigan, the founder of the Redheads and it's leader for the past several years, has taken a leave of absence from the team's activities for personal reasons. Her former partner Daaneth Kivioq, whom was last seen at the May 4rth Redheads meeting, has taken an "indefinite break" from Second Life. Sabine requested that Dusk Griswold and Lomgren Smalls take her place in leading the Passionate Redheads team.

Despite the loss of their founder's participation, at least for now, the Redheads have continued to raise funds for the Relay, having raised 14,000 at the recent May Day Faire. The team has suffered setbacks before. Last year, Daaneth was temporarily out of action due to a stroke, and later that season a number split off and formed another group. But the group still went on to become one of the best teams that year.

Further Passionate Redhead events are planned, including a "Bid Me Human" event on Friday May 11th.

Sabine McGettigan and her Passionate Redheads

Grease Coakes recently sat down with the leader of the Passionate Redheads Relay for Life group: Sabine McGettin. Sabine had a few things to say about the Redheads' accomplishments, as well as a few of their challenges.

Read the interview in People.

Passionate Redheads Pre-Season Team Meeting

On Friday Jan 27th, the Passionate Redheads held their first meeting of the year. The official start of the Relay fundraising season “Time for a Cure” isn’t until March 10th, but it wasn’t too early to plan. Team leaders Sabine McGetting and Daaneth Kivioq presided over the meeting, of which about a couple dozen showed up in the hour-long gathering.

A number of ideas were discussed. Themed dances such as 40’s jitterbug and 60’s rock were suggested. Daan told there would be more “Bid Me or Not” events, referring to the three “Bid me Human” events last year that culminated with Rita going around in a human av until the Relay weekend after 75,000 Lindens were raised. He suggested he might put himself on the line again in a “Bid Me Bunny” event, the mention of the av being a pink bunny getting a few chuckles. Rita mentioned that with Sunweaver Air changing hands, Club Cutlass would be remodeled, “When it is done, we can do a grand reopening and donate the proceeds to the RFL.” Also suggested was a fishing tournament and a pony fundraiser.

There were also a few recommendations. One was supporting other teams, such as the Steelhead Salmons. Another was getting events on the Linden Lab SL events calendar. Also mentioned was Bryanr Rickena’s RFL Passionate Redhead’s Museum in the Precious Dragons sim at (96, 32, 22), and that there would soon be a changing of Relay groups. The new chat group was “Relay for Life Volunteers,” the old SL Relay for Life being discontinued.

To read Sabine McGettin’s account of the meeting, go to her post in the Passionate Redhead’s Blog.

Top picture from Sabine McGettin

Bixyl Shuftan

Sunweaver Landlady's Real-Life Family Suffers Tragedy

The following was sent as group notices yesterday and today for the Sunweavers.

Rita's RL sister's and her RL nephew and his family, GF, daughter and son, die in fire, this past Tuesday morning. Only one boy survives after jumping from second story window. Here is the link to the news: http://www.fox2now.com/news/ktvi-8-year-old-dies-two-days-after-fatal-fire-20110818,0,5069209.story

It appears there was a working fire detector in the house and it went off. Lauren (mother), perhaps Cameron too, were attempting to get the kids out of the house, but were overcome by the smoke, during the attempt. Only Dominic made it to safety. Sabine and Daaneth McGettigan are collecting for my sister and her loss, if you wish to donate to help out.

Interview with Daaneth McGettigan (Daaneth Kivioq)

Recently, Second Life Newser had a chance to interview the co-captain of the Relay for Life Passionate Redheads team, Daaneth McGettigan (account name Daaneth Kivioq). Daanaeth talked about how he joined Second Life and the Relay, some of the history of the Passionate Redheads, his recent stroke, and his sim which has been the location of a number of Relay events.

Read more in People.

"The Campsite is DONE, and its Breathtakingly Beautiful!"

The camp is not open to the public yet, but it should be tomorrow. The name of the campsite is "Peace to All Who Enter Here." There are several rides. - including a balloon that soars high above the camp, and the "Tree of Tranquility" that dominates the center of the build.

I want to thank Sabine McGettigan, Lomgren Smalls, Shockwave Yareach, Dusk Griswold, Rita Mariner, and Skylark Lefavre for their hard work.

Go Redheads! Go Relay!
Passionate Redheads, RFL Family (138, 70, 23)

Daaneth Kivioq

The Passionate Redheads Team for Relay for Life Sim Sponsorships

The Passionate Redheads are the only team sponsoring THREE sims during the actual Relay for Life Walk wich takes place July 16-17, 2011.

Each of these sims cost $250 USD; our team has been given the credit for these donations to the American Cancer Society.

Please remember to thank Cha Klaar for his generous gift to ACS and to our Team. Do take the time to visit the beautiful Medical Diorama he's created!

Sponsors:

Cha Klarr, owner of the Virtual 3D Medical Diorama; for the Passionate Redheads
Tupol Island (120, 131, 0)

Passionate Redheads; Team Sponsored Sim, funded by donations from Passionate Redheads Team Members. (This sim will bear our Team Name!)

Rita Martens; in memory of Anne Martens, Daaneth's sister (This sim will bear Anne's name).

With Love and Gratitude,

Sabine McGettigan

A Message From Daaneth Kivioq

Earlier today (Sunday May 1st), I was contacted by Daaneth Kivioq, by way of a voice chat. He asked me to teleport to Southern Colorado, saying there were a few things he wanted to explain.

Getting there, still in voice, he told me he wanted me to pass a message on, "I'd like to thank everyone. I can't begin to express how grateful I am to have to have such a bunch of friends. I couldn't have gotten through this without Sabine (McGettigan) ... I am so grateful to have her here. ... I'd like to thank Shockwave for his kind offer to pay for the sim. Southern Colorado is not going anywhere. It has automatic payment set up."

"I'd like to explain what happened. The stroke, it was a complete shock. The hardest part, you don't know what you really lost. The ability to type, that's a hard problem. There's no way to describe it. It hits you like a hammer without warning ... I had the presence of mind to stay conscious, call for help. One of my good friends was around to help me. ..."

The connection began to go bad, and Daaneth told me he had to go, saying he was very much looking forward to meeting up with everyone.

I couldn't see Daan's av at all, and he himself told me he could only see a cloud. But the important thing was our friend was on his way back.

"Getting stronger, every day."


Bixyl Shuftan

Southern Colorado Sim Due to Vanish

When Daaneth Kivioq of Relay for Life’s team “Passionate Redheads” suffered a stroke earlier this month, team members gave their support to their stricken comment in both well-wishes and an event held in his honor. But a few raised one question: “What happens to Daaneth’s sim, Southern Colorado?”

Sad to say, it seems the sim’s days are numbered. Talking to team leader Sabine McGettigan and team member Nydia Tungsten, the sim was paid for another month, but after that nothing, “More renters on the sim would otherwise help, but without a way to get them into Daan’s ... account, there’s just no way.”

Southern Colorado has been the location of a number of Relay for Life events by the Passionate Redheads, from weekly meetings, to music and dance parties, and more. Nydia’s zeppelin club, Little Dove, is there, as is Fimi Falls, named after a Redhead whose battle and end to cancer continues to inspired teammates, many whom know her only by stories.

If you’ve never visited the sim, by all means do so. There is much to see there, including the rental village sometimes overlooked by Relayers heading to events. But what draws many are the falls, which were one of the favorite locations of the late Artistic Fimicloud.

To get to Southern Colorado, Click Here.

Bixyl Shuftan

Over 65,000 Lindens ($260 US) Raised in RFL Event in Honor of Daaneth Kivioq

On Tuesday night, a special Relay for Life event was held in honor of Passionate Redheads team officer Daaneth Kivioq, whom had recently been hospitalized from a stroke. It was a night in which team differences meant nothing, and Daan's friends wanted to wish him well in a way he would be proud of.

Read about it in Events.