Relay for Life!

I had a pretty amazing day today. I had the opportunity to participate in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life out here in Mission Viejo. My friend Jason is an Allstate Agent and loves to get involved with the community, so I joined his team. I had never done this before, so I wasn't really sure what to expect. I had gotten some donations thanks to my dear friends and co-workers, and I knew it was 24 hours long, but I never dreamed I would stay longer than a few hours. I got there at 10 am...it was already hot as heck. Only Jason and I were there, so we did a lap around the track holding our banner, then sat and waited for more team members to come. And waited. And waited some more. :) It was so freaking hot that no one dared come! finally at about 12 Summer from our team came and brought a friend. They walked that track for an hour straight! Jason and I had done a few laps here and there, but we didn't have enough team members to have someone at the track at all times. Kim, my new roomie came for an hour and a half too. At this point I had to dash home and change because although I wore capri pants, they were sweat material and I was dying!

So after I put on my lightest clothes, I came back and we kept walking and chatting and eating and just enjoying the even. Anne had joined us and we had a great time, the 3 of us. There was so much going on and so much energy from the people. Most there had done it many years in a row, but they said that we had a good group and set-up for our very first year. They had theme laps and decorating contests and live bands and air bounces and so much stuff. It was awesome.

Later that night, when it had finally cooled down, we finally got some people to show up...Mark, Tessa, Kim again, this time with her boyfriend Dave, Melanie, Rayna, Christina and Christa. We had fun chatting and walking and eating all the cool snacks Jason got for us.

We decided that we didn't want to pull an all nighter with everyone else (the event goes from 10 am to 10 am the next day), so we packed up before midnight so we could come home and get to bed. It was an awesome, exhausting day, but I was pumped and had a great time. It's good to know that so many people care and we raised a ton of money for the ACS. The sleepiness has just hit me, so I'm off to bed.

Walk until I drop!

They had concerts and live music...really cool, except when the bands sucked.

I love my Relay T-shirt...you got it when you earned over $100 in donations...thank you sponsors!

People really got into the themes, despite the heat.