RFL Opening Cerem Sample Script 033110

The opening ceremony script introduces the Relay For Life event and kicks off the festivities. It includes remarks by the emcee, co-chairs, a cancer survivor speaker, and a community sponsor. The co-chairs welcome participants and explain the event's purpose to honor cancer survivors and fundraise for cancer research. The survivor shares their experience and commitment to support others. The sponsor thanks volunteers and announces their company's support. The co-chairs conclude by asking survivors and caregivers to take the first laps around the track to celebrate survivors and kick off the relay.

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RFL Opening Cerem Sample Script 033110

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KevinTan

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Sample Script OPENING CEREMONY

American Cancer Society Relay For Life of [Hometown], USA

10 minutes prior to OPENING CEREMONY
ADJUST SCRIPT FOR AN EVENT THEME OR ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS
LIKE ACS-FUNDED RESEARCHER, LEADERSHIP REPRESENTATIVE,
ETC.
State, national, and Relay flag-bearers; color guard; and high school marching
band gather on either side of stage area. Emcee and event co-chairs are on stage,
ready to go.
EMCEE:
Ladies and gentlemen, at this time we ask that all survivors gather at [starting
location] in preparation for our opening ceremony. Participants, please fan out
[around the track/gather around the stage area]. The opening ceremonies will
begin in five minutes.
EMCEE:
Please welcome the [hometown] high school marching band and color guard as
they present our national anthem.
EMCEE:
Im happy to introduce your American Cancer Society Relay For Life of
[hometown] co-chairs, [X] and [Y]

CO-CHAIR X:
Thank you. Its so good to see everyone. Thank you for being here and a special
thanks to the [hometown] high school marching band! Welcome to the 2010
American Cancer Society Relay For Life of [hometown]!
This is an amazing gathering. Just look around you. Everyone is here for the
same reason: to put an end to cancer. The next 24 hours will take us together on a
life-affirming journey, symbolizing a day in the life of someone fighting cancer
a disease that never sleeps.

CO-CHAIR Y:
Were here in [hometown] tonight, doing what other Relayers do in 5,000
communities across America and in 20 other countries. By walking this track this
weekend, you are joining forces with nearly four million people worldwide who
want to save lives and create a world with more birthdays.
Imagine a world with more birthdays, a world where cancer is scarce. Eleven
million cancer survivors in this country and the survivors here with us now show the progress weve made in the fight to eliminate cancer as a major health
problem. They prove that the progress weve made is not just a dream.

Did you know that the American Cancer Society is the official sponsor of
birthdays? Thats right, they are! Because they know that every birthday is worth
fighting for in every community. They also know that a world with less cancer
and more birthdays gets closer at every Relay For Life event. Arm-in-arm,

participants, survivors and volunteers inspire our community and draw strength
from each other.
CO-CHAIR X:
While each of us has a unique reason for being here, we all have something very
much in common we want to make a difference in the fight against cancer.
Because of your support of Relay For Life, the American Cancer Society is able
to saves lives by helping people stay well and get well, by finding cures, and by
fighting back.

We have gathered as a community, determined that those who are facing cancer
will be supported, that those who have lost their battle will NOT be forgotten,
and that, together, we will continue to fight back so that one day, no one in
[hometown] will hear those dreadful words you have cancer.

Please help me welcome one of our very own Heroes of Hope, cancer survivor
[name]!
SURVIVOR:
[USE THIS PROVIDED SCRIPT OR ONE WRITTEN BY YOUR SURVIVOR. BE SURE TO
REVIEW YOUR SURVIVORS MESSAGE AND MAKE SURE IT REFERENCES
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, RELAY FOR LIFE OR PROGRAMS/SERVICES OF THE
SOCIETY.]

Eliminating cancer isnt going to be easy nothing worthwhile ever is. It will
take power and courage and time and money and sacrifice just like it does to
survive cancer. But it is possible.

I am a [X-year] [type] cancer survivor and Im here to celebrate my birthday

with my family, friends, and all of you. Ill be fighting back right beside all of
you, too, for the next 364 days, until were back together again for Relay For Life
2011!
I can tell you as a survivor, that the days you spend from diagnosis through
treatment are long. Well, now that Ive beaten this disease, I want to do all I can
to make sure my family, my friends, and all of you dont have to suffer from
cancer. So, Ive decided to help create a world with more birthdays by [explain
how survivor volunteers for the American Cancer Society, helps cancer patients /
survivors locally, works on advocacy issues, etc.]
As a survivor, as a citizen of [hometown], and as a Relayer, Id like to say a
special thank you to all of the companies who have taken a leadership role in our
Relay by becoming sponsors. In addition to putting teams together, they lend
their financial support to help offset our expenses or donate much-needed goods
and services. If you look around you at all the logos that grace your T-shirt and
this venue, you can see that we are fortunate to have a number of caring
companies in [hometown]. From our title sponsor, [XXXXXX], please welcome
[XXXXXX]!

(Ask one major sponsor to represent all sponsors in making remarks from the
stage. Remarks should be brief and include a thank you to any other key sponsors
that need to be mentioned.)

SPONSOR:
Thank you [name of survivor who introduced sponsor]. We are so happy to be
here once again this year, along with our fellow sponsors [XXXXX]. Over the
past [XXX] years, weve been a proud partner to the American Cancer Society as
a title sponsor.
We are thrilled to partner with the American Cancer Society, the volunteer
committee, and the other community sponsors to help bring Relay For Life to our
community. Each step we take this evening around the track gets us closer to a
world with more birthdays. As a representative of [company name] and the other
2010 Relay sponsors, were very proud to be a part of the effort to save lives and
creating a world with more birthdays.

CO-CHAIR X:
Since 1913, when the American Cancer Society was founded, the Society has
fought for every birthday threatened by cancer in every community, including our
own! Cancer doesnt discriminate and neither does the American Cancer Society.
As volunteers and supporters of the Society, we fight for so no one has to ever
face cancer.

CO-CHAIR Y:
The American Cancer Society combines an unwavering commitment based on a
century of experience, turning what we know about cancer like how to prevent
it into what we can do to fight it. And we fight it on every front, because
lessons from one battlefield can mean victory on another.

CO-CHAIR X:
No matter why you take part in Relay, one thing is clear: with every step you
take, you help the American Cancer Society save lives. Each person who shares
the Relay experience can take pride in knowing that you are working to create a
world where this disease will no longer threaten the lives of our loved ones or
claim another year of anyones life.

CO-CHAIR Y:
Some of your fellow Relayers have gone above and beyond the call of duty to
make this Relay a great experience. The people you see among you in the [X
color] shirts are members of your community who worked on the Relay
committee to make this years event happen. By all means, flag them down and
say hello, tell them what we can do to make your experience better, and ask them
about all the many opportunities available to you. At the very least, please thank
them for their hard work. They have dedicated their time and effort to make sure
this is 24 hours youll never forget.

CO-CHAIR X:
So what do you say we get this celebration started?! Let me quickly explain
whats about to happen. Were going to honor our survivors here with us today by
asking them to take the first lap, and we ask that everyone else fan out around the
track to cheer them as they go. As they finish the first lap, well ask anyone who
is currently a caregiver or who has ever been a caregiver, to join the survivors for
a second lap. Then, well ask all our teams to walk a lap together before we settle
in to our regular walking schedule and kick off our entertainment and activities.

CO-CHAIR Y:
So, without further ado, please join me in cheering on our Heroes of Hope
our cancer survivors our reason to celebrate, as they walk the opening lap of
our 2009 American Cancer Society Relay For Life of [hometown]!! You inspire
us with your strength and courage, and we celebrate you!!
[UPBEAT, ENERGETIC MUSIC PLAYS LOUDLY AS SURVIVORS
DANCE AND CELEBRATE THEIR WAY AROUND THE TRACK.]