If you happen to be down in Blacksburg this weekend for the Spring game, don’t miss a chance to stop by the drill field and participate in this worthy, but fun night. You’ll be able to enjoy a once in a life time slumber party with 5,000 of your closest friends…fun for all ages whether you are a student, grad, alumni, parents, friends, neighbors, or just passing by.

Starting, Friday April 24th at 6:00PM and ending at 6:00AM, this will be a night filled with fun and games….entertainment begins with the famous “Low Tech” performance at 7:00PM. Check out all of the activities at VTRelay.org.

If you can’t be there, you can still DONATE! Honor or remember someone with a luminaria during the Relay For Life® Luminaria Ceremony of Hope. Place your luminaria donation online now.

Read this message from a member of the planning committee:

“A story and message from a planning committee member and VT Relay participant

Hello Relay For Life Team Captains and Participants,

I wanted to send you all a message to tell you the story about Why I Relay, and why I am so proud of you for signing up to take part in the fight against cancer by participating in Relay For Life at Virginia Tech.

When I came to Virginia Tech, I had never participated in a Relay For Life event before. I had a vague idea about what it entailed, but never really took the time to get involved with it. My freshman year, I signed up to be on a team for an organization I was in. I ended up loving the event, where I was really inspired by meeting survivors and other participants and hearing their stories. I ended up staying awake the entire night and walking 26 miles all night with two other girls in my organization (one of whom is on the Exec Planning Committee this year).

After that amazing experience my freshman year, I knew I had to get more involved with Relay For Life at Virginia Tech. So I applied to become the Director of Entertainment and Ceremonies for the 2006 Relay For Life event at Virginia Tech. I had already seen cancer affect my family – my aunt is a breast cancer survivor, and my grandmother died from breast cancer when I was 13. Right before the event was to take place, I found out that both of my parents had been diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, which is a type of skin cancer. It’s not a very “bad” form, compared to melanoma or other types of cancer, but it scared me none the less to hear them tell me they had cancer. They both had small operations and had the cancers removed and are currently cancer free, for which I am very thankful (and they will be at Relay on Friday).

I have several reasons, beside my parents why I continue to be involved with Relay For Life. I can’t help but be inspired by the number of people that have joined the fight against cancer at Virginia Tech this year. It is an absolutely amazing thing. I am also inspired by people like Alice Wagner and Chris Armstrong, who have dedicated countless hours all year, to making this Relay For Life the best one Tech has ever seen, but not only am I inspired by their hard work and tireless dedication, I am especially inspired because of their stories of why they are involved. Their stories, like mine, involve a parent.

There are also the stories that include a friend. For 2006’s event, and 2007’s as well, I had the chance to work with Matt Ortiz. When I met Matt in the fall of 2005, he had already been battling cancer for some time. Matt was a member of the Corps of Cadets and Class of 2007 graduate from Virginia Tech, as well as a Relay For Life student planning committee member for those two years. After Matt graduated, his cancer got worse, and he ended up passing away last summer. After attending his funeral, I told myself that I would dedicate myself even more fervently to the mission of Relay For Life and fight back, so that eventually, no one would have to go to another funeral for a friend or family member they lost to cancer. The strides the American Cancer Society has been making every day, thanks in part to the participation of people like you in events like Relay For Life, brings us all closer to living in a cancer free world.

The event this year holds a special importance for me, because one of my good friends and fellow ‘08 Hokie grads was diagnosed with cancer after we graduated last May. This year, I relay for him. He underwent surgery to get rid of the cancer, but it came back and he is currently undergoing treatment. If you find you need that extra motivation this week to send just a few more e-mails or fundraise those few extra dollars, or during the event to keep you walking when it gets late and you’re chilly and tired, and you just want to go to sleep, think about my friend and walk a few laps for him. Come find me and I will walk some laps with you – it would be my honor to do so.

There are also the amazing stories that all of you have lived and inspire you in the fight against cancer, all of which I truly wish I could hear. The ones I shared are just a few of the stories about how cancer has touched my life. The stories continue of those affected by cancer – cousins, friend’s kids, co-workers, family friends, loved ones, fellow Hokies, etc. If you need someone to walk for, walk for my friend, my parents, Matt Ortiz, Skye L., my cousin, my aunt, Towny Townsend, the Hokie nation, 32, Alice’s mom, Matt S., your friends and family members that are cancer-free, the list goes on. Pick one and keep moving.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for joining the fight so that hopefully someday soon, cancer will be banished and the people I love, and the people you love, will not have to worry about hearing the “C” word in the future….”

Hokie hugs,

Melissa Trotman

We ARE Virginia Tech”

As Hokie parents, Your At Home Team is proud to be a part of this worthwhile cause!