Dr. Lockridge (Board Member), Ali (Event Chair), Me, and Jessica (ACS Staff Partner)

In March I attended the Nordic Style Relay For Life event in Stowe, Vermont.  The Nordic Style Relay is an event like no other as it is held at the Trapp Family Ski Lodge.  The Trapp Family Ski Lodge is most popularly known for from The Sound of Music.  This was the 7th year for this Relay and yes…it’s held outdoors! 

I have never gone skiing in my whole entire life and in the past have not been much of an outdoor person.  However, after attending so many Relay For Life events I had gained some appreciation of being outside more often.  Since this event was held when temperatures were typically in the teens and twenties I enlisted the help of the ACS Staff partner and an outdoor enthusiast friend of mine!  Jessica from the ACS office sent me a list of things needed for such an outdoor event and my friend Jose took me to REI and Cabela’s…stores I have NEVER set foot into!  I also made my own trips to the North Face and Columbia.  After several shopping excursions and a lecture on the importance of wearing so many layers I was ready for my trip to Vermont!  Vermont is a very beautiful state!  The residents of Vermont are big on supporting everything and anything local from chocolate, to cheese, to peanut butter, and even soap!  The list goes on and on.  I only scheduled myself to be in Vermont for the Relay For Life event.  I wish I had made more time to see and appreciate all the natural beauty of the state.  The next time I go I will have to make a real vacation out of it! 

 Anyway, on to Relay…  I volunteered to work at the Survivor Reception. I met many wonderful volunteers such as Rachel the Survivorship Chair and Ali, the Event Chair.  I also met their Staff Partner, Jessica and the VP of Income Development, Hilary.

I like volunteering at the events that I visit rather than just being a guest.  It gives me a real opportunity to talk to the people in the community, meet fellow Relayers, and other cancer survivors.  Since this is such a unique event this Relay also drew other out of town guests aside from me.  I met a caregiver and volunteer from Michigan.  His name was Brian.  Brian’s wife is a cancer survivor and one of his reasons to Relay.  He traveled with a friend to the event.  Brian participated in the “Swimwear Lap!”  I maybe from the “Windy City” but the thought of being outside without my layers of clothing didn’t appeal to me.  He almost won the contest for that lap.  However, one other gentleman that participated in the lap decided to make a snow angel on the ground!  Brrr!!!  This Relay also attracted a Staff Partner from the Canadian Cancer Society.  I met Josianne who was from Canada.  Both Brian and Josianne are hoping to bring the Nordic Style Relay to their hometowns.  I promised both of them that if they made that happen I would definitely attend!  I am sure a lot of you are wondering what a Nordic Style Relay looks like.  Here is the public link to my pictures on Facebook.  You don’t have to have an account to view the pictures: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=158465&id=500043657&l=f68cc03f24

 As I mentioned before the event is held outdoors in the snow!  Participants of this event either cross country ski or snow shoe their way around the track.  The weather was beautiful and the snow was great enough for me to just walk the track that night.  Teams have the option to either camp out…that’s right camp outside!  Or they can rent a room at the lodge.  There is a warm up tent and inside that tent food is served all night long!  The best part is the food is free to all participants not just survivors!  The local restaurants and businesses really give and donate great food, desserts, coffee, etc.  I had two bowls of chili!!!  At midnight there was a baked potato bar!  Also inside the tent there was a Relay store!  Yes, I shopped there!  What did I buy?  A fleece hat and scarf of course!  I also located the ACS CAN / Advocacy area and met their Relay CAN Chair, “Purple Susie.”  Yes, purple is her favorite color.  She was an Ambassador at Celebration On The Hill in 2006.  Ironically, so was I!  Then last, but not least there was all sorts of entertainment throughout the night.  I took a long break when the local comedians were up on the mike.  One of the most important things to remember in life is to laugh.  Finding the humor in all things positive or negative goes a long way.  Laughter not only fills your heart, makes you smile, and fills your soul, but if you laugh enough in life you’re abs will thank you for it!  On that note I will end my post here.  Mere words could never describe the experience that I had nor show my gratitude to those who made me feel welcome at the event.  If any of you are looking to attend a unique Relay For Life event that is outside of your home state this is definitely one you have to see and participate in!!! 

Thank you everyone at the Nordic Style Relay!  I had an AWESOME time!! Hope to see you all again some day!

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