Hello team! Not much to report today. Ice Cream Days are here! That's kind of exciting for Le Mars people. I haven't heard a total yet on how much our Relay raised, but will update when I do. I know we're up to $2,270.00 (had another $20 come in!).

As a goal for next year's Relay, I thought we'd shoot for between $2,500 and $3,000. Given the little time we had this year and what we accomplished, I'd say this goal is a good target. Be thinking about ways to fundraise all year long. Our Team will have one major fundraiser, yet to be determined, but our individual fundraising was a huge success this year so don't stop just because the Relay's a year away. Feel free to keep asking people for donations and we can get those sent in to get a tally running for next year.

Everyone have a good rest of the week!

We had another team donation come in, another $250.00. That brings us to $2,250.00 and the second place team collected $2560!!! We are awesome!!!

Andy and I are contemplating if we want to volunteer to work at the Relay next year, we have the phone number of the lady to contact. We had some good ideas come up in discussion and thought maybe our input would put a new spin on the Relay and hopefully get more people involved, especially overnight. Most teams packed up and only maybe 5 teams were there overnight, sometimes there were only 4-5 people walking. I can't say we constantly had someone walking, but we were there. The contests they had overnight were fun, but with so few people around, they didn't even do some of them. I guess I just saw a lot of room for improvement and thought they could use someone to step in and suggest new, fun ideas that would keep people at the Relay.

Will let everyone know what we decide.

Next week is Ice Cream Days in Le Mars so I'm going to brainstorm and see if there's something we could maybe pull together during that.

Also had the idea last night that it would be fun if the Relay would start up a Relay for Life basketball or softball or volleyball league, where us teams would compete against each other. Would get people involved and active. Again, just ideas that pop into my brain.

Well, everyone have a nice week! We bought a cheap-o popup camper last night so hoping to get some camping done this summer. Can't believe it's June 6 already!!

Take care,
Shelly

Here's a link to the article that was in today's Le Mars Sentinel about the Relay:

http://www.lemarssentinel.com/story/1215207.html

Relay 2007 was a huge success! Our team raised $2,000.00...on the dot!!! Here's how it breaks down:

$1,520.00 - team-collected donations
$335.00 - bake sale/glow sticks/bracelets, etc.
$145.00 - commitment fee we turned in at Bank Night

All of the Cancer Society people were very impressed with how much we had raised in the few short weeks that we had to prepare. I, as well, am very proud of all the hard work all of you put into the Relay! I couldn't ask for a better team. Thanks to everyone for your involvement and your support, I know we've made Mitchel proud!

So we've got some time to consider how we want to fundraise for next year's Relay, but I have a few ideas to throw out there for everyone's consideration:

• Softball game, we sell goodies at concession stand, charge teams to play, etc.
• Craft fair booth - Sioux Center has a craft fair every year, possibly even 2, one in Spring, other in Fall, and we could sell crafty things to raise funds.
• Penny drive, set jars around local businesses we frequent, asking people to donate their pennies.

We still have lots of time to think about fun ways to raise money so we can meet and exceed that $2,000.00 mark before next year's Relay. Please let me know if you have any ideas on fundraising, I would love to have input from everyone so we can keep our team active throughout the year.

I'll keep everyone informed throughout the year on what's happening.

Thanks again to all of you and God Bless.

IT'S RELAY DAY!!!!!

So far, no rain. My fingers are crossed that it will stay that way.

Andy and I are heading to the fairgrounds at about 1:30 today. It'll probably take us a couple hours to get everything set up and looking pretty!

Please call my cell phone if you need anything today, the number was on my previous e-mails.

I'm really looking forward to the Relay and hope everyone is pumped up for it!!!!

See you all soon!
Shelly

Wanted to mention there is going to be a concession stand at the Relay, but we are planning to bring our small propane grill to make hot dogs/brats/hamburgers, so if you would like to grill with us, just bring some meat/buns and we'll eat together. I have cups, plates, that kind of stuff already. And we can pick up some chips or something.

With all the activities going on, I wasn't sure how to handle this, so it's up to you.

3 days until the Relay!!!

Hello Team Mitchel!

It's hard to believe the relay is only 3 days away, especially with this weather. Doesn't feel much like late May!

Wanted to remind everyone to be thinking about what you'll be bringing for the relay bake sale. Individually wrapped goodies would work great. Something like rice krispy bars, trail mix in baggies, things like that would be great ideas. If anyone cares to, feel free to get bottles of water to sell alongside our bake sale. Any cost to you will be reimbursed out of our sales.

I ordered 300 glow stick bracelets to sell for $1 each at our campsite after dark. I'm hoping that will be a big hit.

Sounds like we might be getting rained on, I think if that's the case, they'll have us walk in one of the buildings at the fairgrounds. It would be fun to be outside, but no matter where we are, we'll be together and that's really what matters.

Still need a few people's money for the shirts that Tonya is having made, so if you haven't paid for that yet ($9) please bring that money with you Friday so we can get that taken care of. We'll have your shirts at the campsite to hand out.

Please be at the fairgrounds by 6 p.m. Friday night, earlier if you can come help set up camp. Our tent is a light green, it is actually 2 tents that are connected, and our campsite will be the one with all the heart balloons. It shouldn't be too hard to spot us!

Hope everyone is excited for the Relay! It's going to be a great time and I am looking forward to it. Please bring all the funds you've raised thusfar to the relay and we'll get all that money in order so we can make our final donation, which they collect right before the luminaria ceremony at 9:45.

If you aren't staying overnight, please plan on walking your hour sometime between 6 p.m. and whenever you have to leave so those that do stay overnight will walk only their hour. From 6 a.m. - 7 a.m., for the final hour, our team will be tied together for the All Team Walk.

We do now have a canopy and long table for the bake sale, now all we need is a good weather forecast! Let's all pray for great weather!!!

Well, Team, Thanks for all your hard work and I'll be seeing you all soon!!!

P.S. The Relay is open to the public, so tell all your family, friends, neighbors, whatever, to join us for a good time to raise money in our fight against Cancer.