Renee Riva of RFL Relay Rockers Passes Away

 

Last night, Thursday August 20, Trader1 Whiplash announced the passing of Renee Riva.

 

With broken hearts and profound sadness the Relay Rockers learned today of the passing of our dear friend, original teammate and pillar of strength Renee Riva.

Renee who was partnered with DJRipster Riva for 11 years was a 3-time cancer survivor and  living proof that resilience and hope can carry a person, and everyone around them, through the hardest of battles.

Renee was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2011 and then a few years later suffered a metastatic brain tumor. As a result of the multiple treatments she developed leukemia and in the past year suffered Kidney failure and had been in assisted living as she underwent dialysis.

Renee passed away peacefully in her sleep this morning. 

A Memorial Service is being planned for for early September.
 

The announcement was followed by a number of messages of surprise and condolences in Relay chat. "Prayers for all who knew her." "So sad to hear of her passing. she was a lovely lady and we've missed her these past few months. condolences to her family and friends." "Hugs, Trader, Rip, the Rockers and her friends & family. Renee will be greatly missed, she was a true inspiration." "So sorry to hear of her passing. Prayers to DJRipster , friends and SL family and also to real life family and friends."

 

The Relay Rockers team for the Relay for Life was folded at the end of this year's Relay season in June after about twenty years, with the advancing age and declining health of it's remaining founding members being a factor. 

 

Rest in peace Renee 

 

Image Credit: DJ ripster435riva (ripster435 Resident) 

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

"RFL Relic" Found At Arinultra Cay

On Thursday August 14, Trader Whiplash-Ballinger (Trader1 Whiplash) was in the process of working on the club and boardwalk at Arinultra Cay, which involved moving both parts of the building and land. In the middle of the work, he made a surprising find. He found a Relay for Life bracelet, one made for it's very first season in 2005.  Overjoyed, he announced it to the Relay group.

[17:41] Trader Whiplash-Ballinger (Trader1 Whiplash): Just found a RFL Relic while terraforming as we redesign Arinultra CAy and Legends Classic Rock!  Its been buried on the sand for years!  https://gyazo.com/9df5a021b4a273d17e638d6afddc79e3
[17:42] Trader Whiplash-Ballinger (Trader1 Whiplash): Its a 2005 RFL Awareness Bracelet..   from the 1st RFL Weekend in SL
[17:42] Ʈɨρρɨ Ʈǿƹȿ Dąǥǥƹř ŦǿřƹȿɨǥɦƮ (Tippi Dagger): o wow
[17:42] Alexia Hykova: Archeologists will have a hell of a time if they start excavating in SL
[17:45] Trader Whiplash-Ballinger (Trader1 Whiplash): this was buried under the boardwalk
[17:48] Trader Whiplash-Ballinger (Trader1 Whiplash): Sending it to Kitty for the museum.

Alexia would joke, "Did you find a helicopter under the boardwalk by any chance? I know someone who's been looking for it for years." Trader would go on to invite everyone to the sim at 5PM on Sunday to celebrate fellow Relay Rocker teammate Nuala's real-life birthday, and witness the remainder of the old club blown up.

Press Release: Relaystock 2015

Once again The Relay Rockers invite everyone to join them on May 23 & 24th at Relay dAlliez, for RelayStock 2015, a multi team Relay For Life of Second Life event.  

The event will feature 'Team Sites' around a 60s style festival stage.  Teams are invited to bring Kiosks and Vendors, host 2 hour DJ segments on the stage and participate in one the most popular events of each relay year, the Final Round of the Relay Rocker's Celebrate Remember Fight Back Top DJ Competition. The Rockers anticipate room for about 60 teams this season, so don't wait to reserve a spot!

"The Relay Rockers have been fortunate to have participants from many teams in our CRFB Event" said Rockers Co-Founder Trader Whiplash. "RelayStock is our way of saying thank you for the huge support across the grid for the competition.  It  affords every team the opportunity to share in a super fund raising event. This is just another example of the One Team concept in Relay.  It doesn’t matter whose kiosk or vendor the donations land in, after all we are all on the same team in the end." Trader noted that in 2014, the original RelayStock event raised more than L$ 1.5 million and more than 50 teams participated.

The event will be held at Relay dAlliez.  Relay dAlliez is dedicated to the memory of Alliez Mysterio, who with Nuala Maracas and Trader Whiplash,  helped found the Relay Rockers team in 2005. Alliez was lost to breast cancer in 2013.  The sim was first made available in 2014 to any team to hold Relay For Life events. There are still several prime weekend dates open.  Team representatives can visit the Relay dAlliez InfoHub for more information and to submit a reservation request.   

Scheduled Events:

Saturday May 23

2015 CRFB Top Dj Contest  Finals  1pm - 5pm

1 - 3 pm CRFB 2nd Seeded Finalist 

3 -  5pm     CRFB  1st Seeded Finalist- 

5pm-515pm Presentation of 2015 CRFB Top DJ Trophies and Awards

    Saturday BYOK* Fever  featuring:

515pm-7pm - Madelyn Majestic - Relay Rockers / T1Radio

7pm - 9pm  - Fuzzball Ortega - Steelhead Salmon / T1Radio

Sunday  May 24

3pm - 5pm - Relay Rap

5pm - 8pm  T1Radio's TIme Machine the 60s - Trader Whiplash - Team Relay Rockers  BYOK 

Teams may reserve the stage for their own DJs  at the following times:

*ALL TIMES SLT

Saturday May 23rd:

8am-10am      

10am-12noon   

12pm-  1pm      

           Sun. May 24th

           

 8am-10am   

10am -12noon   

12pm - 2pm       

2pm - 3pm

Scheduled Events:

Saturday May 23

2015 CRFB Top Dj Contest  Finals  1pm - 5pm

1 - 3 pm CRFB 2nd Seeded Finalist 

3 -  5pm     CRFB  1st Seeded Finalist- 

5pm-515pm Presentation of 2015 CRFB Top DJ Trophies and Awards

Saturday BYOK Fever  featuring:

515pm-7pm - Madelyn Majestic - Relay Rockers / T1Radio

7pm - 9pm  - Fuzzball Ortega - Steelhead Salmon / T1Radio

Sunday  May 24

3pm - 5pm - Relay Rap

5pm - 8pm  T1Radio's TIme Machine the 60s - Trader Whiplash - Team Relay Rockers  BYOK 

For More Information Contact Ariel Stormcrow, Relay Rockers Co-Captain, 

ariel@relayrockers.t1radio.com

*BYOK=- Bring Your Own Kiosk ( All Teams Invited to Place Kiosks during this time)

Press Release: First Annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Across Second Life Strides Walk

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/American%20Cancer%20Society/184/248/23

On Sunday, October 26, 2014, at 9 am slt, the very first Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk will be held in Second Life.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Across Second Life is an annual event that place in honor of breast cancer awareness and fundraising in October of each year. Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is the official breast cancer charity of the American Cancer Society.

Second Life residents will make strides together to promote breast cancer awareness and to honor breast cancer survivors and caregivers. Stride Walk will kick off at 9 am slt with a special T1 Radio Warm Up Show and will feature 9 hours of themed laps, live djs and performances, and fun! The day will wrap up with a special Pink Power Time Machine Special event with Trader1 Whiplash from 5pm to 7pm slt. Below is a complete schedule of events with hourly themes:

Schedule of Events:
9 am to 10 am slt – T1 Radio
10am to 11 am slt – Opening Ceremony
11 to 12pm slt – T1 Radio – Survivor and Caregiver Hour (Survivors and caregivers are why we make strides! Help us honor these very special people)
12 pm to 1pm slt – Boot It Up Hour (wear your favorite boots as you walk around the Stride’s path)
1pm to 2pm slt – International Spirit Hour (Wave your country’s flag as you walk around the Stride’s path)
2pm to 3pm slt – Hat’s Aplenty Hour (Show off your favorite hat during this hour)
3pm to 4pm slt – Let’s Get Hopping Hour (Grab one of our hoppers and hop around the path)
4pm to 5pm slt – Remembrance Ceremony (Remember your loved ones that you have lost to breast cancer during this special hour)
5pm to 7pm slt – Time Machine Special (We are going back to the 1960’s with DJ Trader1 Whiplash)

About Making Strides Against Breast Cancer:
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer or MSABC is the largest network of breast cancer awareness events in the nation, uniting more than 300 communities to finish the fight. Every breast cancer walk and event is an incredible and inspiring opportunity to honor those who have battled breast cancer, raise awareness about what we can do to reduce our breast cancer risk, and raise money to help the American Cancer Society fight the disease with research, information, services, and access to mammograms for women who need them.
About the American Cancer Society:

For more than 100 years, the American Cancer Society (ACS) has worked relentlessly to save lives and create a world with less cancer and more birthdays. Together with millions of our supporters worldwide, we help people stay well, help people get well, find cures, and fight back against cancer.

For more information:
www.makingstridessl.org
http://makingstrides.acsevents.org/site/PageServer?pagename=MSABC_CY14_FindAnEvent
www.cancer.org

"Relay Rap" Begins for 2013

The Relay For Life fundraising season doesn't officially begin until March. But already the radio show about the event is starting weekly broadcasts. Bixyl Shuftan was invited to drop in to sit with the Relayers as they discussed both the past season and plans for the one ahead for 2013.

Read more in Events.

RFL Walk 2012: The Flood Party

On Wednesday, the final day of the Relay track before the takedown, people were going about seeing a few more sights, taking a few more pictures, and of course there was what's become a Relay tradition in Second Life since 2010: the "Flood Party." Group announcements from Trader1 Whiplash let people know.


Please be advised the grid-wide weather service has posted a severe weather watch for numerous RFL sims this evening, possibly around 6 PM SLT.

A severe weather watch means you can expect rain, possibly heavy at times, high winds, and localized flooding in low-lying areas of the RFL track.


People were gathering at T1Radio's Studio in the RFL Acceptance sim, the station playing music. And as 6 PM rolled around, the rain began to fall, and the water began to cover the road. DJ Madonna joked this was one reason why she wore a latex rubber suit. People danced away, some sporting ducky inflatable tubes. As time went on, the water got a little deeper. Fortunately for anyone without a swimmer AO, it didn't match the ten meters of the first flood party in 2010, but on the road it did get waist deep.

Eventually, the waters receded, the party came to a close, and everyone went their seperate ways, some going about the track for one more look at the builds. Thursday is the takedown day in which the builds come down. Come Friday or Saturday, the sims will fade away for another year.

Bixyl Shuftan

Trader Whiplash Gets Bid Bald in Relay for Life Event

This Sunday May 27th, Trader1 Whiplash was the volunteer (victim) for a "Bid Me Bald" event by the Relay Rockers. Trader had agreed to be hairless for a day for each five thousand Lindens raised. The event raised 41,000 Lindens, so Trader will be bald for a total of eight days.

A notecard stated the event was started "by Trader Whiplash and the Relay Rockers team in 2007. The team had promised to go bald with Trader if he lost his hair during his treatment for Leukemia. Trader suggested instead that a fund raising event be created where people could honor survivors by allowing themselves to be 'Bid Bald.' Since that point the Rockers have raised 100s of 1000s of $L with its signature event. It is shared by many other teams and has spwaned many other Bid Me Events. Traditionally each year Trader is the first to be Bid Bald by the Rockers."

Trader will be able to get his hair back on June 5th.

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

Steelhead's Woodstock Dance

On Friday night, the Steelhead Community held a 60's themed dance, with a Woodstock look. Woodstock certainly seemed like an odd mix with this batch of elves and mad scientists from a steampunk place, but the Steelheads went with it. Their dance hall was given a stage set from the noted counterculture event, along with posters, Volkswagen fans decked out in flower patterns, "woody" trucks with surfboards for music earlier in the 60s, and a number decking themselves out in hippie outfits.

Sheriff Fuzzball Ortega DJed the event, going all-out in dressing up the part of a 60's musician. He didn't have the infamous mountain of hair on, though the 60s being noted for bad hair sported another doo. His tunes had a variety of 60s songs from the Beach Boys to the hippie songs of Woodstuck. And yes, "Long Beautiful Hair" was among those played.

There was one other thing different about Fuzzball's DJing that night. It was the first time he spoke during a session. He plans to do so again in future events.

Baron Klaus Wulfenbach was among those attending the party. Normally his hair is a bit long and somewhat unkempt, like so many other eccentric scientists. But when dancing at a party full of long haired hippies, he showed up sporting a haircut, neat and trim, dressed in a business suit.

Trader1 Whiplash of the Relay staff was also there, and RFL kiosks were set up for the party. A few thousand was raised that night, bringing the total of the Steelhead Salmons team to over 172,000 Lindens. Less than 28,000 stands between the Salmons and Gold status.

The party went on for three hours of 60's fun, with some residents who grew up in the 60's and 70s talking about the shows they saw as kids, "I tried explaining Saturday Morning cartoons to my kids ... they couldn't imagine life without computers." "We had computers then. We called them pocket calculators."

At the close of the party, residents bid each other good night, and went their separate ways.

Bixly Shuftan

A Sunday Full of Relay for Life Events

Sunday March 25th was an active day for the Relay for Life. There was a sixty-hour music marathon that began the night before, a cross sim-snail race, an "Areosmith" tribute that drew a big crowd, a "jail & bail" that nabbed one of the top people among the Relayers, and more.

Read more in Events.