Neighbor News
Why the 1,000 Stories is Important
Learn a little more why sharing our stories for the 1,000 Stories Campaign is so important!
For more information about the campaign & how to mail in your stories, please visit: http://rockforrelay.weebly.com/1000stories.html
This campaign was born with 2 purposes in mind and has since expanded!
The first reason this campaign came together was for the purpose of fundraising. And you might be asking yourself how & why? The dream fundraiser I'm planning has the potential to be massive-massive in attendance & massive in funds raised. While I can't release details yet as we're still in the beginning phases of organizing- if we pull this off- it would be huge.
Because of the size of this event & what I'm trying to do- I had to figure out a way to make a statement & to grab the right people's attention to secure a meeting! The campaign has the potential to do just that. The goal is to send this box filled with our stories & the faces of those we loved and for somebody to open that and feel how important this box is.
Outside of planning this secret fundraiser (you're just going to have to trust me on how awesome this fundraiser could be!), this campaign is very important to our community. With Relay in Yorktown celebrating our 13th year, it might be hard to remember why we continue to Relay year after year. While we never forget who we're fighting for, I think it's important to be reminded of just how many people in our lives have experienced cancer.
When I sat & made my list of the people in my life who have fought, I was astonished with how quickly I hit the double digits. How is that ok? How is that fair? It's not.
Writing these stories was difficult, but it was a really beautiful opportunity for me to reflect. Relay has become a truly important part of my life over the past 5 years. I plan, organize & fundraise nearly year round and at times it becomes exhausting. And there have been times when I forget why I do what I do. This campaign reminded me.
I think when we sit and write to share our stories, it's bringing us back to our roots. I think we all could use that.
I have loved expanding the campaign into the personal videos. I started with filming myself & committee members who were interested in sharing their story via video. It's harder than it seems- if you watch mine, you'll see the ugly cry! But regardless of that, the videos have shown a new layer of vulnerability. It has shown how far too many of us have experienced the same things or felt the same way at some point.
It's bringing us together.
The campaign so far has been so well received. People have been asking if we can extend the use of our stories through the year & incorporate them into Relay 2018. My answer has been heck yes! So while we're far away from our Relay in June, we're already planning ways to celebrate & honor our stories. We're working on ways to incorporate them at fundraising events, kickoff, Relay & our beloved luminaria ceremony. We're dedicated to making sure stories are heard & that we're celebrating each story.
Collecting the 1,000 stories is a massive goal. For me, it's extremely difficult to believe at times that we'll hit that goal. Relying on SO many people to trust me with their stories is stressful. Not everybody is ready to share a story. And it's easy to forget about the campaign and make time for it.
But carving out an hour or so to write these stories can make such an impact, I can promise you that. Your stories don't have to be extremely detailed if you don't want them to- there is beauty in simplicity.
What I am asking is for you to take an hour or so of your day. Make a list of the people you know who have battled cancer & print out their pictures. Then simply write their story. Share a favorite memory of them. Tell us about a moment in their journey where their bravery was shining. Think about the most special thing about the person that you would want to make sure lives on.
I'm asking you to honor those we love in a special & new way. I'm asking that you help us make a difference by making our community stronger. I'm asking you to share your story so that we all know that we're not alone no matter what our role has been in this cancer journey.
I'm asking you to simply write a story.
The first reason this campaign came together was for the purpose of fundraising. And you might be asking yourself how & why? The dream fundraiser I'm planning has the potential to be massive-massive in attendance & massive in funds raised. While I can't release details yet as we're still in the beginning phases of organizing- if we pull this off- it would be huge.
Because of the size of this event & what I'm trying to do- I had to figure out a way to make a statement & to grab the right people's attention to secure a meeting! The campaign has the potential to do just that. The goal is to send this box filled with our stories & the faces of those we loved and for somebody to open that and feel how important this box is.
Outside of planning this secret fundraiser (you're just going to have to trust me on how awesome this fundraiser could be!), this campaign is very important to our community. With Relay in Yorktown celebrating our 13th year, it might be hard to remember why we continue to Relay year after year. While we never forget who we're fighting for, I think it's important to be reminded of just how many people in our lives have experienced cancer.
When I sat & made my list of the people in my life who have fought, I was astonished with how quickly I hit the double digits. How is that ok? How is that fair? It's not.
Writing these stories was difficult, but it was a really beautiful opportunity for me to reflect. Relay has become a truly important part of my life over the past 5 years. I plan, organize & fundraise nearly year round and at times it becomes exhausting. And there have been times when I forget why I do what I do. This campaign reminded me.
I think when we sit and write to share our stories, it's bringing us back to our roots. I think we all could use that.
I have loved expanding the campaign into the personal videos. I started with filming myself & committee members who were interested in sharing their story via video. It's harder than it seems- if you watch mine, you'll see the ugly cry! But regardless of that, the videos have shown a new layer of vulnerability. It has shown how far too many of us have experienced the same things or felt the same way at some point.
It's bringing us together.
The campaign so far has been so well received. People have been asking if we can extend the use of our stories through the year & incorporate them into Relay 2018. My answer has been heck yes! So while we're far away from our Relay in June, we're already planning ways to celebrate & honor our stories. We're working on ways to incorporate them at fundraising events, kickoff, Relay & our beloved luminaria ceremony. We're dedicated to making sure stories are heard & that we're celebrating each story.
Collecting the 1,000 stories is a massive goal. For me, it's extremely difficult to believe at times that we'll hit that goal. Relying on SO many people to trust me with their stories is stressful. Not everybody is ready to share a story. And it's easy to forget about the campaign and make time for it.
But carving out an hour or so to write these stories can make such an impact, I can promise you that. Your stories don't have to be extremely detailed if you don't want them to- there is beauty in simplicity.
What I am asking is for you to take an hour or so of your day. Make a list of the people you know who have battled cancer & print out their pictures. Then simply write their story. Share a favorite memory of them. Tell us about a moment in their journey where their bravery was shining. Think about the most special thing about the person that you would want to make sure lives on.
I'm asking you to honor those we love in a special & new way. I'm asking that you help us make a difference by making our community stronger. I'm asking you to share your story so that we all know that we're not alone no matter what our role has been in this cancer journey.
I'm asking you to simply write a story.
